Wei Qingshan and the others walked for an hour before they finally saw the entrance to Dali Village. Zhao Yueniang had come out early, using the excuse of picking wild vegetables to walk back and forth near the village entrance, waiting for her brother to return.

Since Lin Yu married, she had been very worried, afraid that the other person wouldn’t treat him well. It was said that her brother-in-law was unfilial, and how could an unfilial person be a good one?

Zhao Yueniang saw the people from afar and didn’t dare recognize them at first. It wasn’t until they got closer that she recognized them, and she quickly ran over. “Brother!”

Lin Yu saw Zhao Yueniang and was very happy. “Yueniang.”

Zhao Yueniang felt a little afraid when she saw the tall and burly Wei Qingshan. She quietly called out to him.

Lin Yu handed Zhao Yueniang a small cloth bag that he had prepared separately. “This is from your Qingshan-ge. He told me to bring it to you. You can eat it yourself.”

Zhao Yueniang was very delighted, and her impression of Wei Qingshan improved a little. Today, when Yu-ger came back, he wore new clothes, and his complexion had improved, so it seemed that he was doing well.

The three of them walked toward the Zhao family’s house. When the neighbors saw Lin Yu returning, Aunt Li greeted them. “Yu-ger is back!”

“Hmm, Aunt, I’m back.”

Lin Yu had changed into new clothes, and Aunt Li didn’t immediately recognize him. Lin Yu had a gentle smile on his face, looking as though he was living well, and Aunt Li was very happy for him.

Cai Chunhua knew that Lin Yu would return to his parents’ house today, so she had packed away all the good food and drinks in the house. The poor hunter didn’t have much to offer, and she felt sorry for them coming over to eat her food.

“Father, Mother, Yu-ger is back!” Zhao Yueniang was the first to rush home.

Cai Chunhua, not too pleased, said, “He’s back, so what? It’s not like we haven’t seen him before.”

She turned her head and saw the meat and a basket of fruits in Wei Qingshan’s hands. Her face immediately brightened with a smile as she took the things. “Jiazhu, Yu-ger is back.”

Zhao Jiazhu also came out. “Yu-ger is back.”

Lin Yu nodded and called out, “Uncle.”

Cai Chunhua was very happy as she carried the meat into the house. It had been a long time since they had eaten meat. She planned to cook it for dinner, and she also noticed the basket of fruits. She’d take it with her to her mother’s house as a gift when she visited. However, she noticed that no wine was brought over—typical of poor hunters, even reluctant to bring wine.

Wei Qingshan and Zhao Jiazhu were talking, while Zhao Yueniang pulled Lin Yu aside. She whispered to him, “Brother, how is that husband of yours?”

“He’s quite good.”

Lin Yu felt a bit embarrassed when asked, but then he remembered that they had been married for three days, and Wei Qingshan hadn’t even touched him. He couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. Was it that Wei Qingshan didn’t like him? It was all his fault for crying on their wedding night; if he had just endured it, things might have been better.

Zhao Yueniang touched Lin Yu’s new clothes. “Brother, your clothes are so nice.”

Lin Yu smiled. “He bought them for me.”

Lin Yu patted the little girl’s head, and Zhao Yueniang quickly grabbed his hand. “Brother, I’m not a little kid anymore.”

“Yes, but you’re still my sister.”

Lin Yu looked at Zhao Yueniang’s rough hands and noticed that they were cracked from the cold. “What happened to your hands?”

Zhao Yueniang quickly hid her hands behind her back. “It’s nothing, nothing.”

“Since I left, have you been doing all the chores at home?”

Zhao Yueniang nodded. Even if she didn’t say anything, Lin Yu could guess. Cai Chunhua was lazy and didn’t want to do anything, so all the work fell on Zhao Yueniang after he left.

Now, the chores at home weren’t too much, but once the grass grew again, she would have to go out to gather wild grass for the chickens and ducks in the yard.

Lin Yu sighed helplessly. He had been lucky to marry Wei Qingshan. If Cai Chunhua hadn’t been after the ten taels of silver as dowry, he wouldn’t have married Wei Qingshan.

Fortunately, he had married Wei Qingshan, who had a “bad reputation.” If he had married the lame Laizi, there was nothing he could have done.

In the house, Zhao Dazhi peeked through the window to secretly look at the people in the yard. When he saw Lin Yu in new clothes, he was struck dumb. Lin Yu was even more beautiful now. It was all his mother’s fault. Back then, he listened to her when she said that they could keep Lin Yu as a concubine, thinking that once he passed the imperial exams, he could marry a lady from a good family.

Zhao Dazhi looked at him with envy, wishing he could pull Lin Yu’s hand. Lin Yu, noticing the gaze, looked up and saw Zhao Dazhi. He was a bit startled and hurried inside to find Wei Qingshan.

Inside the house, the two didn’t say much. Zhao Jiazhu considered himself the father of a scholar and always looked down on the common villagers. He was waiting for his son to pass the exams and bring glory to their family.

Wei Qingshan brought a bowl of water for Lin Yu to drink. Just a moment ago, everything seemed fine, but why had he rushed back so suddenly?

“Yu-ger, Yu-ger! Come and help with the cooking!”

Lin Yu stood up to go over, but Wei Qingshan stopped him, and he obediently sat back down. Cai Chunhua called out again, “Yu-ger! Yu-ger! Come and help with the cooking!”

Zhao Jiazhu raised his eyelids and glanced at the two without speaking. His eyes were full of reproach toward Lin Yu for not listening, but considering that his family was of scholarly descent, he couldn’t be bothered to talk to these so-called “mud-legged” people whom he looked down upon.

Cai Chunhua called out twice but got no response. She huffed angrily, “Has he really taken himself as a guest? To think he’d expect me to serve him? In his dreams!”

Since Lin Yu got married, the housework—washing clothes, cooking, and boiling water—was all left to Yueniang. But Yueniang was clumsy at doing chores, and it wasn’t nearly as comfortable as when Lin Yu did it.

Hearing the calling, Zhao Yueniang ran over. “Mom, I’ll do it.”

“You little brat! Where did you run off to again, trying to get out of work? All you do is eat and play! What’s the point of raising you? You can’t even carry a basin of water without almost burning your mother! What good are you?”

“I’m telling you, even when you’re married off, I’m still your mother! No matter when you come back, you’re gonna have to work and cook. Otherwise, what’s the point of me raising you?”

These scolding words were heard by everyone in the yard. Lin Yu felt a bit scared and instinctively moved closer to Wei Qingshan. Wei Qingshan gently patted Lin Yu’s hand to comfort him.

“Uncle, what’s up with Auntie? My little cousin is still so young. How can she yell like that in front of guests? What would outsiders think? By the way, where’s Cousin Dazhi? I heard he’s a scholar. I’ve also heard that the county magistrate favors students from harmonious families.”

Zhao Jiazhu coughed a little, “Ah, yes, yes. My Dazhi is going to take the county exam this year.”

Wei Qingshan nodded, “Cousin Dazhi will surely pass this year. Then you’ll be a father of a scholar.”

Zhao Jiazhu, who loved his face above all, felt quite pleased after hearing this. “I’ll go get some hot water.”

Putting on the airs of the head of the family, Zhao Jiazhu went to the kitchen, softly scolding the others, “Look at you all! Making a fool of yourselves, are you still not cooking?”

Cai Chunhua snorted but finally stopped her cursing.

Inside the hall, Lin Yu softly thanked him, “Thank you.”

“What for? You and I are already husband and wife. Do I need to thank you for not minding my bad reputation?” Wei Qingshan replied, not bothering with Zhao Jiazhu anymore. “Let’s go to your room.”

Lin Yu’s face turned pale for a moment. “No, I mean, I used to live in the woodshed. That room was Yueniang’s.”

Wei Qingshan didn’t speak any further. The more he thought about it, the more he disliked Zhao Jiazhu and his wife, only wanting to take his husband and leave as soon as possible.

After Zhao Jiazhu went to the kitchen and said a few words, Zhao Yueniang also ran out, wiping away her tears. She was already twelve this year, yet her mother had scolded her in front of guests. Zhao Yueniang felt deeply wronged.

Lin Yu immediately stood up. “I’ll go check on Yueniang.”

Lin Yu followed Zhao Yueniang to her room. Zhao Yueniang’s room was one of the worst in the house, with small windows and dim lighting.

When Lin Yu entered, Zhao Yueniang was lying on the bed, crying. Lin Yu gently patted her back. “Yueniang, don’t cry.”

Zhao Yueniang was feeling very wronged, especially after Lin Yu had left. She no longer had anyone to lean on in the house. Being just a half-grown girl, she naturally felt bad.

“Brother, I really didn’t want you to get married. I miss you so much since you left. Mom just keeps scolding me every day.”

Lin Yu didn’t know what to say, so he could only comfort her for a while. Zhao Yueniang finally calmed down a bit.

“I’ll get some water for you to wash your face. Okay, no more crying.”

It wasn’t just Zhao Yueniang who was upset; Lin Yu had also shed some tears after hearing her cry. He quickly wiped them away before anyone could see, then carried a basin of water to the yard.

Inside his room, Zhao Dazhi, who was reading a book, heard the noise. He peeked through the window and saw Lin Yu alone, fetching water. His slim waist, which could easily be held in one’s arms, looked even more attractive in the delicate spring clothes he was wearing. It made his face glow like a peach blossom.

Zhao Dazhi couldn’t help but feel a surge of desire. Since Lin Yu got married, he’d been thinking about him. Why hadn’t he noticed how good-looking this little beggar was before? If he’d known, he wouldn’t have spent money running to Changchun Tower.

His lust stirred, Zhao Dazhi noticed that Lin Yu was alone in the corner of the yard and decided that now was his chance. Even if he didn’t do anything too obvious, maybe he could at least touch Lin Yu’s hand.

Determined, Zhao Dazhi sneaked out. “Yu-ger, why didn’t you answer me when I called you earlier?”

Lin Yu disliked Zhao Dazhi and moved away the moment he saw him coming. Zhao Dazhi was even more eager now. “Yu-ger, let me help you with that, let me.”

As he spoke, Zhao Dazhi reached for Lin Yu’s hand. Lin Yu, startled, quickly splashed the water from the basin at him.

Meanwhile, in the hall, Wei Qingshan, who had been keeping an eye on Lin Yu, saw Zhao Dazhi’s improper behavior and immediately shouted, “What do you think you’re doing!”

Wei Qingshan quickly rushed over and pulled Lin Yu into his arms, grabbing Zhao Dazhi’s collar and throwing him to the ground.

Zhao Dazhi, who had been spoiled at home and had never done any farm work, was no match for Wei Qingshan. Dressed in his scholar’s robe, which was thin and flimsy, he had just been drenched in cold water by Lin Yu. Now, thrown to the ground by Wei Qingshan, his clothes were covered in mud, making him look like a dog that had fallen into a muddy pit.