Yu Niangzi quickly explained, “It was just Liu Dage (Brother Liu) who happened to see and helped me tie it.”

She looked at the others, her voice trembling and rising, “Really, you have to believe me.”

Others were skeptical, but Liu Dajie (Sister Liu) winked at Yu Niangzi, “Oh, you like my brother too? He’s a widower, and you’re a widow. You two are a perfect match.”

“I don’t!” Yu Niangzi was even more flustered.

How could Liu Dajie say such things?

There was really nothing between her and Liu Dage.

“Ah, if it’s nothing, then why are you so anxious? I think you’re guilty.” Liu Dajie was a bit displeased when Yu Niangzi kept denying it, so she sneered.

Yu Niangzi’s face flushed with anger, but she couldn’t think of what to say.

Just then, a handful of snowflakes landed squarely on Liu Dajie’s neck, sending a chill through her.

She glared angrily and turned around, only to see Lu Shiqiu standing on the riverbank.

She knew he was someone she couldn’t provoke, so she could only suppress her anger and turn away.

Another handful of snowflakes came flying, hitting Liu Dajie again.

Furious, she spun around and glared at Lu Shiqiu. “What are you doing? Just because you’re the village head’s son doesn’t mean you can bully people.”

Lu Shiqiu casually kicked the snow, sending it flying all over Liu Dajie.

From his higher vantage point, he looked down at her. “Liu Dalang is so ugly, poor as can be, and has two sons. Any woman with eyes and a brain wouldn’t want him. You just want to ruin Yu Niangzi’s reputation and force her to marry Liu Dalang. Who doesn’t know your little scheme? What? You think you can bully others but not be bullied yourself?”

Liu Dajie, her thoughts exposed, turned bright red with anger. “You’re talking nonsense!” With that, she grabbed her water bucket and rushed off in a panic.

The others, sensing the situation turning sour, quickly scattered.

Lu Shiqiu sneered at them, and Yu Niangzi stood by the river, looking up at him to thank him.

Lu Shiqiu squatted down, glancing at her hand, which was swollen and red. “Marry me. I’ll marry you.”

Yu Niangzi was stunned for a moment, and after a while, she shook her head repeatedly. “I won’t remarry. I’m fine as I am now.”

After saying this, she hurriedly carried the wooden basin and rushed off in a panic.

As they passed by each other, Lu Shiqiu called out to her, “Your mother-in-law will never give up those three rooms. Rather than being hurt by her later, you’d be better off marrying me. At least you can see your daughters every day.”

Yu Niangzi pressed her lips tightly together, not responding, and quickly walked away.

Her refusal was clear, and Lu Shiqiu watched her retreating figure, frowning.

He turned to the system and asked, “Si Yi ( System 1111), why won’t she marry me?”

These past few days, he had thought it through.

His father didn’t agree to let him marry a virgin, so he’d marry a widow instead.

He recalled the system saying that Yu Niangzi was a fortunate person, and he thought this might be a good idea.

First, if he bound the system, he would have to raise three stepdaughters for free.

Rather than adopting unknown children, he might as well raise Yu Niangzi’s three daughters.

At least they could take care of her in the future, and as her husband, he’d benefit too.

It wouldn’t be a loss.

Secondly, Yu Niangzi was quite attractive.

Even though she had been worn down by her mother-in-law for years, her features were still striking.

Just look at her three daughters—each one more beautiful than the last.

He wanted to find someone pretty, and for his future children, she seemed a good choice.

But he didn’t expect Yu Niangzi to reject him so decisively.

It would be his first marriage, and he wasn’t a burden.

Marrying him was better than being forced to marry someone else by Yu Pozi.

The system, in a soft voice, replied, 【A woman’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea. This system doesn’t understand.】

Lu Shiqiu was very displeased.

The system had promised to help him find a wife, and this was how it helped?

The system retorted, 【Please note, this system is a child-raising system, not a wife-chasing system.】

Lu Shiqiu was speechless.

He pinched his chin and asked, “Si Yi, did Yu Pozi really find a matchmaker?”

The eldest child of the Yu family was Yu Niangzi’s eldest daughter, Da Ya, who was only seven years old.

She definitely wasn’t the one being married off.

If Yu Pozi had really found a matchmaker, it could only be for Yu Niangzi, who had just lost her husband.

After all, her husband had been dead for less than three months, and yet Yu Pozi was so eager to find another man for her.

That old woman must be out of her mind.

The system responded decisively, 【Yes! It was at 3:10 PM the day before yesterday.】

“Speak plainly! What’s with all the time details? How am I supposed to understand that?”

【It was around the 1st quarter of Shen (3:15-3:45 PM).】

Lu Shiqiu finally nodded in satisfaction, a smile appearing on his face. “What did they say?”

There was a brief pause from the system. 【This involves someone else’s privacy, and this system refuses to answer.】

Lu Shiqiu: “…”

The system asked, 【Do you want to marry Yu Niangzi?】

Lu Shiqiu nodded. “Didn’t you say she’s perfect for me?”

【But she’s already married.】

“No one is completely tied down. A woman can marry more than one man.”

【Fine!】

The night was quiet, with the moonlight hazy and a cold wind howling.

The trees around creaked, their shadows flickering in front and behind the house.

Occasionally, a dog’s bark echoed through the village.

The villagers were deep in sleep.

Lu Shiqiu leaned against a narrow alley, rubbing his hands occasionally.

System 1111 silently brought up the thermometer, [Host, it’s currently minus five degrees Celsius with a level 4 typhoon. Be careful not to catch a cold.]

Lu Shiqiu shrank his neck, rubbing his stiff hands, and sniffed. “Thanks for the concern.”

If they truly cared about him, why didn’t they tell him when Yu Pozi was planning to harm Yu Niangzi?

[Host, Old Lady Yu just found a matchmaker. How can you be so sure she’ll harm Madam Yu?]

Lu Shiqiu, like an old farmer, stuffed his hands into his sleeves and muttered, “That old woman isn’t a good person. If she can’t get Yu Niangzi to marry off, she’ll try to force her out. But Yu Niangzi is dead set on not remarrying. She’ll definitely come up with some crooked plan.”

[Host, are you planning to be the hero and save the beauty?]

Lu Shiqiu laughed, “Hey, little kid, you can even figure that out?”

[Host, this plan isn’t good. After saving her, how will you explain why you’re suddenly in her alley at such a late hour?]

Lu Shiqiu moved his stiff legs. “What do you know, little brat? I’m saving her life; she’ll surely repay me. As for the reason? Who cares if I explain or not?”

1111 was left speechless.

Hong Shi pushed open the door and ran in, bringing with her a gust of cold wind.

Before she could say anything, Lu Pozi scolded, “Close the door! Didn’t you know your third brother is freezing?”

Hong Shi wasn’t upset by the scolding.

She smiled, closed the door, and said, “I overheard Auntie next door saying that Yu Niangzi’s three big tile-roofed houses were taken by her youngest son’s family.”

Lu Pozi gasped, “Then where is she living?”

“She’s living in her youngest son’s house,” Hong Shi replied. “The second branch of the Yu family isn’t happy about it and is causing a scene. Mother, do you want to go see?”

Lu Pozi, now intrigued, said, “Let’s go take a look.”

The house was left with only Lu Shiqiu.

System 1111’s voice, now tinged with mockery, came through, [Host, your hero’s rescue plan has failed.]

Lu Shiqiu sniffed, frustrated, “Shut up, I’m not deaf.”

When Lu Pozi returned after witnessing the commotion, she scolded her two daughters-in-law, “Look! When your father isn’t around, the village is in chaos.”

Hong Shi curled her lip, “Yu Niangzi is really silly. Her mother-in-law told her to move, and she just did it.”

Chen Shi, leaning forward, whispered, “I heard a lot of people in the village say that Yu Pozi found a matchmaker to force Mrs. Yu to remarry. She probably doesn’t have much of a choice.”

Widows had it hard.

Yu Niangzi was gentle by nature, and with filial piety weighing on her, her father-in-law, the village head, wasn’t around.

What else could she do but let Yu Pozi manipulate her?

Hong Shi, busy sewing clothes for her child, scratched her head at the news, “I think Old Lady Yu is being foolish too. What will it matter if she takes the house back now? Once Father returns, the house will be given back. Isn’t it all just a waste of time?”

Yu Niangzi wasn’t stupid either.

No matter how much Old Lady Yu threatened her, she hadn’t even brought out the land deed.

Yu Niangzi knew she was just waiting for Village Head to return so she could reclaim the house.

Lu Pozi stopped weaving the straw sandals, furrowing her brow as she thought for a moment.

She then worried that Yu Pozi might use underhanded methods, so she instructed her second daughter-in-law to stay with Yu Niangzi, “Your father isn’t home, and if something happens, he’ll blame us. You should take a quilt over and stay there. You can still eat at home during the day. Don’t take advantage of them.”

Chen Shi, who sympathized deeply with Mrs.Yu, nodded in agreement.

Lu Shiqiu, listening in the back room, finally felt relieved knowing that his mother had made these arrangements.

That night, Chen Shi moved in with Mrs. Yu.

Chen Shi and Mrs.Yu were only a year apart.

Chen Shi had given birth to a daughter first, so she lacked the confidence that Hong Shi had.

She felt a deep sense of empathy with Mrs. Yu.

Over time, they became familiar with each other.

Mrs. Yu was sewing clothes while Yu Sanya slept in the inner room.

Yu Erya was playing with shells at the dining table, ignoring everyone.

Yu Daya opened the door for Chen Shi and brought her a chair.

“Sorry to trouble you,” Mrs. Yu said somewhat apologetically.

Chen Shi sat down, placing the basket on her lap and began weaving straw sandals, “You don’t have to be so polite.”

Mrs. Yu pursed her lips, still uneasy. “With you here, who will look after the kids at home? Should I call them over?”

Chen Shi shook her head, “The kids are both asleep. My mother-in-law is watching them.”

Yu Daya rested her elbows on the table, her little head nodding off.

Yu Niangzi wanted to tell her to go back to bed, but Yu Daya refused.

Chen Shi shifted a few steps closer to Yu Niangzi and whispered, “Has your mother-in-law been pressuring you to remarry again?”

Yu Niangzi shook her head. “No.”