Splendid Twins

After Zhou Wan returned to the house, she called her maid and whispered in her ear. After a moment, the maid respectfully withdrew. The sunlight shone on her face through the gap in the olive window. There was a determined light in her eyes. She must become a superior person!

After a while, the Duke's wife came in and saw Zhou Wan sitting alone. She couldn't help but feel a little worried:

"Wanwan, what's wrong?"

Zhou Wan came back to her senses and chuckled:

"It's okay, I just miss mom a little bit."

"Silly child, mother is right beside you. I promise I will never lose you again."

The Duke's wife put her arm around Zhou Wan's shoulders with concern. Her daughter had been acting very cautious ever since she came back, and as a mother, she felt really distressed seeing this.

Nanny Zhou has secretly investigated who had access to her dowry. The jade pendant was given to her by someone when she was a girl. She kept it in a box and didn't take it seriously. It was not until Wanwan came to visit that she remembered about it. No matter how many punishments Wang Po suffered, she just refused to reveal the origin of the jade pendant!

There was a hint of hatred in her eyes, and she would definitely settle the score when she found the person!

"Wanwan, be good. After I finish taking care of your brother's wedding, I will find someone for you. I will agree with whoever you choose."

Zhou Wan's eyelids drooped slightly when she heard this, and she blushed slightly:

"I still want to accompany mom, why is brother only now..."

She didn't like that so-called brother. Although she had only met him once, she could sense his coldness towards her.

"He had arranged the marriage two years ago, but the girl's grandmother passed away at the end of the year, so the marriage was delayed. He was a filial son, and he personally came to your grandmother, me, and your father to apologize, saying that if you minded, he would cancel the marriage certificates. Your brother said that he would wait, and he was still training in the army, so the marriage was moved to the beginning of spring after the New Year."

"Brother is so lucky."

"Mother has saved up a lot of dowry for you. When you get married, it will be a grand occasion."

Zhou Wan grabbed the Duke's wife's arm and shook it:

"Mom, I don't want to get married, I want to stay with you..."

"Nonsense, there is no girl who doesn't get married. Come on, accompany me to the warehouse and sort out the account books."

The Lady of the Duke pulled Zhou Wan out. She had to teach Wanwan all the skills she had taught Yaoyao. She couldn't let others master them while her own daughter couldn't even read an account book!

Wang Dahu knocked on Si Yao's door in high spirits. When Liu Niang opened the door and saw him, she said politely:

"Hu Zi is here, come in quickly."

"Hello, aunt."

When Si Yao came out of the house, she saw that Wang Dahu was different from usual. He walked lightly and flexibly and consciously controlled his breathing. It seemed that he had almost finished his training in the past few days.

"how's it going?"

"I've recovered a lot, and I wanted to come over to see if there's anything you need me to do."

Si Yao smiled and said:

"If you hadn't come, I would have wanted to find you. Let's go pick up my brother and Si Yu tomorrow."

"Really? Tomorrow?"

"Of course. Now come with me and chop wood."

Her father carried back too much firewood from the mountain these days, so it was a good opportunity for her to see Wang Dahu's strength.

"I'll chop it, and you watch from the side."

Liu Niang was about to leave with the basket of vegetables. Seeing this, Si Yao asked:

"Mom, where are you going?"

"Your aunts have started selling vegetables these days. I can earn a few cents by washing them."

"Aren't you sewing winter clothes?"

"I sew it when I have time. Your father and our donkey are working to earn money. We can't afford to sit idle."

"My father?"

Liu Niang forgot to tell her daughter, and said while patting the basket:

"There was only Lao Zhaotou's ox head in the village to go to the town. There was no room for the vegetable jars after pulling in the people, so the village chief conscripted our donkey cart. Your father was responsible for driving the cart to deliver the vegetable jars to the town and then pulling them back after they were sold. He was paid half a tael of silver a month."

After hearing this, Si Yao understood. This was the reward from the village chief. She donated the recipe to the village for free. The village chief was doing a favor for her parents. Otherwise, she didn't believe that there was no family in the village that raised a donkey!

"Mom, I'll pick up my brothers tomorrow."

"Sure, I'll cook hot pot for you guys when I get back. Hu Zi can come too. Yao Yao has found a younger brother. You can just bring the ones from your family over. It will be more lively when there are more people."

"Then I'll trouble you, auntie."

Wang Dahu was a little flattered. How could he have deserved this? The best thing he had done in his life was to rob Si Yao on the spot. However, he didn't dare say this out loud.

"Chop it up, and make sure it's the same size, thickness, and consistency. If it doesn't meet your requirements, you'll have to watch us eat tomorrow."

Si Yao threw him an axe and stood by with his arms folded over his chest, watching.

Wang Dahu reached out and caught it, saying with a smile:

"Just take a look."

He stood steadily with the axe in hand, adjusted his breathing, and slowly transferred his inner strength to his palms. Then, he raised the axe high and chopped it down in a perfect arc while controlling the direction and strength of the axe. The whole process was very smooth and coordinated, without any unnecessary movements. The air seemed to vibrate and the firewood cracked.

Si Yao raised her eyebrows, looked at the firewood pieces on the ground that were all the same size and thickness, and shrugged. Wang Dahu became more and more adept at it, chopping as he spoke:

"Si Yao is gambling in Jubao Pavilion, and he's been betting big these days."

Si Yao put down her hand and her expression changed slightly:

"Didn't you say you were working as a bookkeeper?"

"That was just a cover. The people with him looked unfamiliar, but they were very skilled and had many tricks. They looked like they were from Shangjing."

Go to Beijing?

How could a scholar like Si Yao associate with these people?

This Wang Dahu said again:

"Your uncle was fired by Fulai Rice Shop. I don't know the reason. Little Stone saw him taking that woman to rent a yard in the next town."

Si Yao took a deep breath. Neither of these two men were good people. Fortunately, she had separated from her family and severed her relationship with them. If they were to continue living together, she would be so suffocated that she would die!

"Everyone has their own destiny. Let them be. As long as they don't bother me, that's all."

Just as he was speaking, someone knocked on the door, and the sound became more and more urgent!

"I'm coming."

As soon as the door opened, Aunt Huang hurriedly grabbed Si Yao with an anxious look on her face:

"Hurry, Yao girl, your grandma, Si Yao's grandma, and his mother are beating your mother."

"where?"

Si Yao walked out with a gloomy face. He really never changes!

"Your mother was helping to mix the cold dishes at the door of your sixth aunt's house, and her mother-in-law and daughter-in-law came over and beat your mother."

Si Yao walked very quickly, fearing that Liu Niang would suffer a loss. A dark gleam flashed across his eyes, and he tightened his lips to suppress his anger.

When they arrived at the door of Aunt Six's house, there was already a circle of villagers there. Si Yao looked closely at Liu Niang, pushed aside the villagers and walked inside. He saw that Liu Niang's clothes were still neat, but there was a slap mark on her face!

Liu Niang was panting after a fierce battle. She was caught off guard and was hit in the face by Wang, but when she reacted she hit her back!

"You guys are still thinking about bullying me, I tell you, no way! In the past, I was the one who tolerated everything because of my children, but now that we've broken up, you still come to mess with me!"

Wang's face was swollen, and she covered her mouth with one hand and muttered:

"Why should we eat coarse food while you hide away and enjoy yourself..."

"You are a heartless bitch. If I hadn't brought you home with a bowl of porridge, you wouldn't know where you are in a brothel right now!"

Mrs. Si twisted her waist and couldn't move. She slumped to the ground, pointed her finger at Liu Niang and cursed. If she couldn't control this bitch, she would let the spit outside drown her!

"You old fool, I may have come here to escape famine, but I am innocent. I am not like you who have committed evil deeds. You are an old man lying on the bed half-dead waiting to die!"

Liu Niang was so angry that her eyes turned red. If the old woman could ruin her reputation, she could hurt her heart!

"Yao girl, take your mother back and apply some medicine."

When Aunt Six saw Si Yao coming in, she hurriedly spoke. When Aunt Liu heard that Si Yao was coming, she turned her head to look at her daughter, and tears flowed unconsciously...