The Peasant Wife: The Prime Minister's Beloved

As the footsteps of the workers gradually became clearer, a day's work officially began.

Chen Xi discussed with them the plan to build two new rooms, and the workers provided valuable advice based on their experience, discussing which was the most ideal location for the expansion.

The east wing is currently occupied by Chen Rong and her two lively and lovely children, while the west wing is her and Xie Tianyi's home.

After some consideration, Chen Xi decided to expand the east wing, where there happened to be a vacant lot. The three houses after the expansion will be closely connected, which will not only make the future living environment more harmonious and lively, but also make it more convenient for Chen Rong to tutor the children at home after they go to school.

Having made up his mind, Chen Xi briefly indicated the general direction of the expansion to the workers. The workers agreed and quickly got to work.

Chen Xi turned around to prepare breakfast and gently woke up Chen Rong and the children to enjoy it, because after the meal she had to go to the mountains alone to collect herbs.

"Chen Rong, hurry up and get up and have breakfast. After breakfast, help me take care of the workers. I have to go up the mountain quickly."

Chen Rong answered from inside the house, his voice mingled with the haste of dressing the child.

"I'll be right there. I'm helping Xiaoyang and Xiaochen get dressed."

Afterwards, Chen Xi walked into the room he and Xie Tianyi shared and gently suggested, "I'll bring breakfast to your room today. There's construction going on outside and it's dusty. It'll be cleaner to eat inside."

"Okay, let's eat in the room. The children can come with us. It's a mess outside today, don't let them play in the yard. Safety first, just stay in the house."

Xie Tianyi's consideration was meticulous and was praised by Chen Xi.

There was a hint of worry and confusion in Xie Tianyi's eyes. The morning light shone on his face, adding a touch of tenderness to this concern.

"Have you used up all the silver notes I gave you last time so quickly? You're in such a hurry to go up the mountain to dig herbs. Do you need anything?"

There was a hint of self-blame in his tone, as if he felt that the help he had provided was not enough.

Chen Xi shook his head gently. "I have been keeping the banknotes you gave me. I was reluctant to touch them. The expenses for building a new house and expanding mushroom purchases were all from the money I saved from selling herbs."

Her eyes were gentle, as if every herb she picked by hand during those difficult days carried hope for her family's future.

Xie Tianyi frowned slightly, feeling touched and distressed, "Then why don't you use my banknotes first? Although our life now is not rich, it is stable. You don't have to be too hard on yourself."

A warm feeling welled up in Chen Xi's heart. "I know we still have some extra money, but that's all for the children's education and future life. As they grow up, they will need more and more money. I have to be frugal and make as many preparations as possible."

Xie Tianyi nodded solemnly and sighed: "Well, you must be careful when you go up the mountain by yourself and pay attention to safety."

"Okay, I'll be careful." Chen Xi replied, with determination in his eyes.

Chen Xi carried the bamboo basket on his back and set foot on the path leading to the forest.

As if receiving some silent call, the people in the village flocked into the mountains and forests to look for mushrooms.

On the other hand, under Yu Qiongying's insistence, Xu Lihong had no choice but to step into the forest.

Although she was unwilling in her heart, she could only choose to endure it silently in the face of the Liu family's rules.

Yu Qiongying cleverly asked Xu Lihong to carry a bamboo basket as well, as if as long as Chen Xi agreed to pick mushrooms together, the matter would be half done.

Chen Xi carried a bamboo basket on her back and walked alone into the depths of the forest. The villagers she met on the way would greet her in a friendly manner, and seeing her equipment, they all guessed that she was also a member of the mushroom picking team.

After she responded politely, she quietly avoided the crowd and walked deeper into the forest, because the noisy crowd at the foot of the mountain made it difficult to concentrate on finding herbs.

Xu Lihong walked through the woods, looking around, hoping to find Chen Xi's trace.

When she found that Chen Xi was gone, she was inexplicably relieved, and her inner struggle was temporarily relieved.

Just as she was about to find another way, she looked up inadvertently and caught a glimpse of Chen Xi walking alone not far away, and it seemed that there was something in his backpack.

After some inner struggle, she finally decided to speed up her pace and muster up the courage to catch up with Chen Xi.

While Xu Lihong was still hesitating about how to greet him, Chen Xi already felt the presence of a follower behind him.

She turned around abruptly, and the moment their eyes met, Chen Xi recognized her.

Xu Lihong stammered, her lips trembling slightly, and it took her a long while to squeeze out a few words.

"I...I'm Xu Lihong. I wonder if you still remember me?"

Her voice was as thin as a mosquito and almost disappeared in the breeze.

Chen Xi raised a gentle smile and responded, "Remember, I didn't have time to ask your name in a hurry that time. Is there anything you want to talk to me about today?"

Xu Lihong wanted to say something but stopped herself. The words in her heart were like a fishbone stuck in her throat, making it difficult to express them smoothly.

The thought of asking to join in mushroom picking was like a huge rock pressing on her heart, so heavy that it made it difficult for her to breathe.

Seeing this, Chen Xi asked again with concern: "Is there any difficulty? Tell me, maybe I can help."

Xu Lihong struggled internally, knowing clearly that if she didn't speak up now, she would not only miss this opportunity, but would also face endless blame and punishment when she returned home.

Finally, she mustered up her courage and said in a thin, trembling voice, "Can our family... also participate in mushroom picking?"

A cloud of doubt arose in Chen Xi's heart. Picking mushrooms was originally a secret of Anning Village. Why was it leaked to people from other villages?

She bluntly expressed her confusion: "How did you know this news?"

Xu Lihong answered frankly: "My mother-in-law heard about it from a relative. That relative lives in your village. It is said that mushroom picking is very profitable, so my mother-in-law asked me to ask you."

As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, sparkling with crystal tears.

She lowered her voice, "I am here to beg you today, but I have no choice. For many years, because I did not give birth to an heir, my status in the Liu family was low, and I suffered cold eyes and fists. The heavy housework was all on my shoulders, and I would be beaten if I made the slightest mistake. I seem to have gotten used to such days, year after year. If I still get nothing today, the same fate will be waiting for me when I go back."

After hearing this, Chen Xi felt a surge of anger in his heart.

What a sad family that treats a weak woman so harshly.

The inability to have children is not entirely the fault of women; more of it should be attributed to ignorance.

She thought of her own experiences and felt that she and Xu Lihong shared the same misfortune, both being miserable people who had been teased by fate.