The Peasant Wife: The Prime Minister's Beloved

Chen Xi smiled gently and profoundly, "Choose your own path in life and make yourself happy. Why should you care too much about other people's opinions?"

The in-depth communication with Wanyu made Chen Xi feel unprecedentedly relieved.

After bidding farewell to Wanyu, Chen Xi slowly walked out of the clinic's door, the task Xie Tianyi had assigned to him earlier coming to his mind.

Since there is plenty of time now, it is the best time to carry out the mission.

She walked through a narrow alley behind the clinic, where a group of skilled craftsmen gathered.

Whether you are making furniture or renovating a house, this is a good place to find craftsmen, because the craftsmen here not only have superb skills but also charge extremely reasonable fees.

Chen Xi's eyes shuttled between each craftsman, carefully observing their work attitude and results, and finally selected a few craftsmen who seemed particularly diligent and skilled.

"If I hire someone to help build a house, how should I calculate the wages?"

Upon hearing this, a worker with a simple and honest face stopped his work and looked at him with sincerity, "If the boss doesn't provide food and beverage, our price is 150 copper coins a day, but if meals are included, it only costs 140 copper coins."

As he spoke, he smiled slightly, trying to win Chen Xi's trust with this approachable attitude.

Noticing that Chen Xi was silent and seemed to be weighing the pros and cons, the worker added: "My offer is already fair. If you don't believe it, you can ask other companies. Their prices will only be higher."

After hearing this, Chen Xi felt that the price was reasonable and immediately decided, "Okay, then please come to Xie's house in Anning Village early tomorrow morning. If you can't find the specific location, just ask around in the village. I am willing to pay 150 coins a day and provide lunch."

When everyone heard this, they couldn't hide their joy on their faces. They didn't expect that things would be settled so smoothly. They quickly agreed, "Okay, we will be there on time."

Afterwards, Chen Xi went through the market, carefully selecting meat and fresh vegetables to prepare for the upcoming banquet at home.

When passing by the vegetable stall, I deliberately took a few more turns to make sure that all the ingredients I needed were available, and planned to go home satisfied.

On the way, I passed by a bakery with tempting aroma, and remembered the expectant eyes of my children at home.

She couldn't help but stop and carefully selected some delicious pastries, preparing to give them a little surprise.

When they returned to Xie's house around noon, Chen Rong had already prepared the necessary ingredients and was just waiting for Chen Xi to start cooking.

Today we specially purchased a lot of meat. After it was cut into thin strips, it was paired with fresh green peppers. Soon, a dish of stir-fried meat with green peppers that was colorful, fragrant and delicious was served on the table.

The whole family sits around the dinner table, enjoying themselves.

Chen Xi took this opportunity to mention to Xie Tianyi the arrangement of the craftsmen coming to repair the house tomorrow. "We have hired five masters in total, and each of them will be paid 150 coins per day. As for lunch, they will be provided at our house."

Xie Tianyi nodded his head in agreement, "That's a good arrangement. When did you set the time?"

"I've made an appointment with them to come over tomorrow morning. Considering there are five people working together, I think five days should be enough to complete all the repairs."

Hearing this, Xie Tianyi said in a relaxed tone: "Then you can do whatever you want."

In the afternoon, when the sun was shining brightly, Chen Xi started to get busy again, turning over the mushrooms and fungus drying in the yard and outside one by one to check.

Those that were hung out to dry a few days ago have already dried thoroughly. After another half an hour of drying, they can be put away.

These days, the villagers' income from mushrooms and fungus, plus the workers' wages to be paid tomorrow, is indeed a considerable expense.

In order to supplement the family income, Chen Xi secretly planned to go into the mountains again tomorrow morning to collect some valuable herbs and sell them.

In another corner of the village, Xu Lihong's mother-in-law Yu Qiongying couldn't help but be moved when she learned that Chen Xi led the whole village to make money by picking mushrooms and fungus.

He privately began to encourage his wife Xu Lihong to get close to Chen Xi, hoping to get a piece of the pie and add some income to the family.

"Tell me, what can you do at home all day? Your stomach hasn't moved, and you can't even get pregnant. You seem listless when doing housework. I think it would be more useful to raise an old hen than you. At least it can lay eggs! What about you?"

Yu Qiongying's words were sharp and merciless.

Faced with her mother-in-law's repeated accusations, Xu Lihong could only lower her head silently, tears welling up in her eyes.

She had heard such words countless times, almost every day. Although she had long been accustomed to it, she still felt a pang of sadness in her heart every time she heard it.

Is it really her fault alone that she can't get pregnant?

Only she knows the pain in her heart.

Whenever the elders in the family started to criticize her, the man who should have been her solid support not only did not stand up to protect her, but instead tried to provoke her in a sarcastic tone.

"Tomorrow you have to go to the mountain behind Anning Village. I've already found out that everyone is picking wild mushrooms there. Chen Xi is probably no exception. You have to find ways to get closer to her. Maybe our family can take advantage of the opportunity to get a share, and we can also pick some back." Yu Qiongying's words were filled with unquestionable authority.

Looking at Xu Lihong's lowered head and depressed expression, Yu Qiongying's anger not only did not dissipate, but became even more intense.

"Did you hear what I just said? Why do you always act like a mute person every time I talk to you? You don't even give me a basic response."

There was a deep humility in Xu Lihong's eyes. She suppressed the bitterness in her heart, raised her head and looked at Yu Qiongying cautiously.

"I was listening, but I didn't dare to respond casually, because I knew that no matter what I said, it would be wrong, and no matter what I did, it would be unpopular."

"When mom said a few words to you, you still put on a displeasure. Who are you showing this to?"

Liu Yonggang, who is next to Yu Qiongying, is a man who can hardly take care of himself, but is always supported by her. This unfair scene is heartbreaking.

Xu Lihong's voice was as thin as a mosquito, full of helplessness and pleading, "I will listen to you in everything, please stop scolding me like this."

Over the years, because she failed to continue the Liu family's bloodline, she had a low status in the family and was often the target of Yu Qiongying and Liu Yonggang's emotional venting. There was always an indescribable humility in her words.

"That's good to know. As a member of the Liu family, you should also make some practical contributions to this family."

Yu Qiongying's harsh words and mean expression made bystanders feel pity for her.

The next morning, as soon as the sky turned pale, Chen Xi began to get busy, preparing a simple but nutritious breakfast while waiting for the workers who were repairing the house to arrive.