The Spirited Daughter-in-law and the Mountain Man

He and Chuan had always been close, growing up together since they were young. There were some things that even second Brother Xiao might not know, but he knew. Now that this had happened, and the Xiao family refused to accept the half a tael of silver he had borrowed to apologize, their relationship with Chuan probably wouldn’t go back to the way it was.

In the master bedroom, three men looked at Su Qingyue with heartache.

Chuan spoke, “Wife, I’m sorry for making you suffer. I won’t deal with Fuquan anymore after this…”

“That’s not necessary.” she said indifferently, “For Zhou Fuquan and his wife to lend us one and a half taels behind their family’s back when the Xiao family needed it is quite good. You grew up together, so you should continue getting along.”

“Wife…”

Su Qingyue thought for a moment, then continued, “After selling a load of mushrooms for 150 cents, I repaid 100 cents to the Zhou Family and spent twenty-four cents on radishes and garlic at Aunt Zhang’s house, leaving twenty-six cents. Also, Old Zhang told me today that he’s going to Qingmu Village tomorrow to visit a friend. He asked if I wanted him to pass along a message about the Xiao Family to the eldest sister, so I let him.”

“Hmph, Xiao Ailiu, that damned woman, is not fit to be our eldest sister.” Every time Xiao Yuchuan mentioned his eldest sister, he was filled with anger, “When she got married, she took away the three acres of farmland that our second brother had worked so hard to save and buy. She even took all the usable things like pots and jars from the house. Giving her a message won’t help, she won’t come back.”

Xiao Yishan’s thick eyebrows also furrowed together, “Yue’er, our eldest sister won’t come back…”

As the youngest, Xiao Qinghe didn’t speak, as if it wasn’t his place to say anything.

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Su Qingyue knew they had misunderstood, “I’m not expecting her to come back and help the family. I just want to pass on a message. Don’t overthink it.”

She, Su Qingyue, wouldn’t remain poor forever. Even if no one trusted her medical skills, by using her intelligence and hard work, she would become prosperous.

And she believed that someone like Xiao Ailiu might come running back it the Xiao Family were ever to become rich. If she didn’t send a message now, who knows what I might say that she wouldn’t know about the Xiao family’s financial situation in the future.

To prevent the Xiao Family’s three sons from softening their hearts at that time.

Of course, Xiao Ailiu might not return in her lifetime. She just liked to plan ahead and take precautions.

The three of them listened and remained silent.

After dinner, Su Qingyue carried her fourth brother to the kitchen to take care of a basket of fish she had caught in the mountain stream that afternoon. After she had gutted the fish and hung them to dry in their usual way on bamboo poles in the backyard, the family went to bed early.

Around two thirty in the morning, Su Qingyue, who was sleeping alone in the secondary bedroom, woke up. She got dressed, got off the bed, and went to the yard to stretch lazily.

She heard groaning and painful moans coming from the master bedroom.

It was Xiao Qinghe’s voice, his voice clearly suppressing the pain, not daring to make it loud.

“Fourth Brother, let me wake up your wife. You’re in pain every night. Let her make you a dose of medicine… there are still three doses left in the house…” Xiao Yuchuan’s voice came through the door.

“No…” Xiao Qinghe’s voice trembled with pain, “She’s suffered enough. I can endure it…”

“Fourth brother…” Xiao Yishan’s cold voice was also full of concern.

Su Qingyue knew that Xiao Qinghe used to take a dose of medicine every day, otherwise his body would have spasms and severe pain after just a few days without it.

She lit the oil lamp, pushed open the unlocked master bedroom door, and walked in..