In the afternoon, Leng Ruo Li returned to the city with Jun Mo Han and a few others.
Today, Leng Ruo Li was supposed to discuss the renovation of Jin Xiu Ge with Zhao Yuan Qing. Due to the unexpected incident last night, she couldn't make it as scheduled this morning. So, after returning from the military camp in the afternoon, she hurried to Jin Xiu Ge.
Jun Mo Han also followed closely behind her, which surprised Leng Ruo Li.
As they approached the entrance of Jin Xiu Ge, Leng Ruo Li was astonished to find that a crowd had gathered at her shop. Not only Zhao Yuan Qing and a few others were working, but also her shop employees, Shi Zheng He, and his group.
At that moment, some were mixing mud, some were clearing debris, and some were carrying wood... 138 Reading Net.
When everyone saw Leng Ruo Li return, they happily greeted her.
“Miss, you’re back. We’re almost done with the shop renovation,” everyone inside said in unison.
“Brother Zhao, I’m truly sorry for this morning. A family emergency occurred last night, and I couldn’t return to the city to meet you as planned,” Leng Ruo Li said apologetically.
“Miss, it’s alright. His Highness Prince Leng had already arranged for his estate’s steward to wait at the shop entrance,” Zhao Yuan Qing said with a grin.
Upon hearing Zhao Yuan Qing’s words, Leng Ruo Li glanced at Jun Mo Han, who stood silently beside her. She felt a touch of warmth; this man was quite thoughtful.
Then, Leng Ruo Li looked at Shi Zheng He, a smile forming on her lips, “Zheng He, Qing Qing, Niu Cui, Niu Hua, why are you all here?”
“Miss, the weather is getting colder, and there’s no farm work left at their homes. They were idle at home anyway. Coincidentally, when the Prince Leng’s estate steward came to me for the keys to open the shop today, I learned that Miss was renovating the shop. So, I planned to gather a couple of people to help. I didn’t expect all of them to be willing to come and help together.”
Hearing this, Leng Ruo Li’s heart was touched again, her smile widening, “Brother Zhao, Zheng He… Thank you all so much. Once the shop is renovated, we’ll all get together for a good celebration. You can bring your families then too.”
Everyone: “Great, Miss.”
They all smiled knowingly.
“Then you all carry on with your work. I won’t disturb you.”
After that, Leng Ruo Li also visited Bai Cao Tang.
As soon as she stepped inside, she saw the mother and her two daughters, their faces bruised and swollen. Liu Nian Hua was busy applying medicine to them, while Old Huang stood by, sighing continuously.
Leng Ruo Li’s brows furrowed, and she walked over to inquire with concern, “Cai Die, who beat you and your daughters?”
“Wuwu… Miss, we… we don’t… don’t have a home anymore.”
Nie Cai Die, with a swollen and purplish face, sobbed uncontrollably.
“What exactly happened? How did you end up beaten like this out of nowhere?” Leng Ruo Li asked, full of questions.
“Alas, Master, it was her mother-in-law who beat them,” Old Huang answered for Cai Die.
“Why did her mother-in-law beat them, the three of you?” Leng Ruo Li asked again.
“Cai Die returned home this morning with Da Niu and Er Niu to get two changes of clothes for her husband. When she got back, she found that their house had been occupied by her mother-in-law, and all of their family’s belongings had been thrown into a smelly ditch. Cai Die was furious and went to reason with her mother-in-law. Unexpectedly, she was restrained and beaten by her mother-in-law and her two younger brothers-in-law. They beat the three of them until they were injured and then threw them out. Seeing that it was getting late and they hadn’t returned to the medical hall, I arranged for two apprentice pharmacists to find their home and bring the injured them back to the medical hall.”
“This is too much!”
Leng Ruo Li said indignantly upon hearing this.
She, Leng Ruo Li, could not stand such bullies who preyed on the weak.
Suddenly, Leng Ruo Li’s eyes brightened, and she thought of a plan.
“Cai Die, do you want to get your house back?”
Nie Cai Die looked at Leng Ruo Li and nodded vigorously. She didn’t want to give up that house; where would their family of four live from now on?
“You all get your medicine applied first. I’ll go to the room to examine your husband’s condition.”
Leng Ruo Li gave her a mysterious smile.
Then, she took out a set of protective clothing from her medical kit, put it on, and entered Nie Cai Die’s husband’s ward. She conducted a thorough examination. She found that the man’s venereal disease had been brought under control, and his condition would fully recover within a week.
“You must have heard the crying outside just now. I don’t want to lecture you further. Whether you live or die, only your wife and two children care about you. After you recover, you must treat them better and stop seeking out other women.”
The man lay on the bed, tears streaming uncontrollably onto his pillow. He had heard the conversation between Nie Cai Die and Dr. Huang outside, even though they had deliberately lowered their voices. He never expected his own mother to be so heartless.
“Miss, please don’t worry. After I recover, I will definitely treat them, the mother and her two daughters, well. At the same time, I will sever ties with her (Cai Die’s mother-in-law).”
“Well, it seems there’s hope for you then!”
Leng Ruo Li glanced at him, her tone indifferent.
Subsequently, Leng Ruo Li took Nie Cai Die in the carriage back to the entrance of her village. By then, it was dark, and one couldn’t see their fingers. Rural people, to save lamp oil, went to bed early.
In the carriage, Leng Ruo Li gave Nie Cai Die a set of white clothes to wear, let her long black hair cascade over her shoulders, painted a ghostly face on her, and blackened her fingers, transforming her into a ghost of death.
“Miss, why did you dress me up like this? Will going out like this scare people to death?”
Nie Cai Die glanced at her attire, somewhat confused.
“Your mother-in-law treated you like this, and you’re still showing her mercy? She’ll be even worse to you in the future.”
“Alright, Miss, Cai Die will listen to you.”
Recalling the day’s events, Nie Cai Die hardened her heart. She wouldn’t care anymore; this was all because her mother-in-law had gone too far.
Then, Leng Ruo Li also changed into a white long gown, let down her hair. She didn’t need to paint a ghost face; she could simply put on a ghost mask.
Thus, she took out a luminous ghost mask from her “sleeve” and put it on, which immediately frightened Nie Cai Die. After a long while, Nie Cai Die regained her composure. The two of them got out of the carriage in the dark and walked towards Nie Cai Die’s home.
The two of them climbed over the wall into Nie Cai Die’s yard, stealthily found Nie Cai Die’s mother-in-law’s room, gently pried open the door, and entered beside Nie Cai Die’s mother-in-law.
The old shrew sensed something unusual in the room, her eyes shot open, and two ghostly faces appeared before her. She immediately wet herself and screamed, then fainted.
The two younger brothers-in-law, who lived next door, heard their mother’s voice, got up immediately, and came out of their rooms. They saw Leng Ruo Li and Nie Cai Die coming out of their mother’s room.
“Ah—Ghosts—”
The two of them screamed, also wetting themselves. The air was instantly filled with a foul odor. Within moments, they passed out.
“Hahaha…”
Leng Ruo Li and Nie Cai Die burst into laughter.
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