The weather in March had already gradually turned warm, but a sudden spring cold snap caused the temperature to drop sharply.

At noon, with the sun shining brightly, many people gathered at the village’s corner, soaking up the sun while doing handicrafts and chatting.

During the farming off-season, aside from gathering wild vegetables and catching fish, there wasn’t much else to do.

As soon as Shen Qing and Jiang Xiangnan appeared at the village entrance, they were immediately spotted by the sharp-eyed women, who shouted, “Oh, where are you two going to buy something good in the city?”

“Speaking of which, Jiang Widow is really free, she can buy whatever she wants. When they were together, it wasn’t this carefree, was it?”

When Jiang Xiangnan heard this, he immediately flared up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

If it weren’t for the two buckets of precious goods he was carrying, he would have jumped up and rushed forward!

He gripped the carrying pole tightly, nervously looking at his mother, waiting for her to start a verbal fight, but instead, he saw her acting like she hadn’t heard anything.

He cautiously asked, “Mother, aren’t you angry?”

Usually, when people called her “headless” or said something offensive, his mother would get so angry her face would turn red and her neck would bulge, and she’d want to go up and fight.

Shen Qing: “Huh? Are they talking about me?”

Jiang Widow is actually referring to her?

Good heavens, she already has grandchildren, and she’s being called a widow?

She looked at Jiang Xiangnan beside her and noticed how furious he was.

It seemed like she should be angry as well, as though his anger was also hers.

But Shen Qing wasn’t angry at all.

First, she wasn’t the original owner, and she didn’t have any feelings for her late husband.

Second, the original husband wasn’t exactly a good man. He couldn’t earn money outside and wouldn’t even help with simple chores at home.

Even though he was like this, the original owner treated him like he was the most important thing in her life.

She would give him the best food and drinks, and even put him before the children. A man like that, wouldn’t his death just be a relief?

The original owner was only thirty-seven this year, at the prime age for starting a career—who needs a man?

“What’s there to be angry about? But, Third Son, remember her. From now on, we must be careful about her in everything.”

Jiang Xiangnan nodded vigorously and then realized something, reminding her, “Mother, every time you argue with Aunt Xiao Mai, after a few days, you two end up getting along again.”

Shen Qing: …This sarcastic talk from Xiao Mai was still the original owner’s friend?

She cleared her throat and explained, “So, you see, I haven’t argued with her, and of course, we won’t get close after a few days. I’m someone who has received guidance from a Bodhisattva in a dream, how could I be the same as before?”

As soon as she mentioned the Bodhisattva, Jiang Xiangnan immediately agreed.

In the past, he wasn’t very convinced, but the changes in his mother these days had been significant, and for the better.

Who else could have such a profound influence, other than the Bodhisattva?

When Sun Xiaomai saw that Shen Qing didn’t respond, she looked at her sideways and kept adding fuel to the fire, “Without the head of the household to manage the money, you can’t just spend it as you like. What if something happens later and you need money? Are you going to beg others?”

Shen Qing didn’t understand the dynamics between the original owner and Sun Xiaomai, but this sarcastic way of speaking really didn’t sit well with her.

She replied, “The head of the household is gone, but doesn’t that make me the head of the household? Of course, I can use the money however I want. If you’re jealous, just make your husband, and you don’t need to wait for him to die, just make sure he values you. You can be the head of the household too as long as he’s alive.”

Sun Xiaomai didn’t expect that her usual words, which would anger Shen Qing immediately, would have no effect today.

Instead, she was calmly retorted, which made her furious.

Why did Shen Qing get to spend money as she pleased without having to serve a man?

She used to live worse than Sun Xiaomai, after all!

Her eyes flickered, and she laughed, “What husband? I remember you wanted to get rid of those two useless children a few days ago. You even made a scene at home about it. Strange, how come those two useless children are still at home? Didn’t you, the head of the household, speak those words as if they were nothing?”

As soon as Sun Xiaomai finished speaking, Jiang Ying, standing beside her, couldn’t take it anymore. Frowning in displeasure, she said, “Sun Xiaomai! What do you mean by that? You were wrong to want to get rid of the children in the first place. If you’ve changed your mind and didn’t do anything evil, you should be praised, but instead, you’re stirring up trouble. What are you trying to do?”

The other women, who had been watching the spectacle, suddenly realized what was going on.

Yes, wanting to get rid of a granddaughter was an evil act.

Not getting rid of her was the right thing to do.

And whether or not others got rid of their children, they couldn’t stir up trouble like this.

A girl’s life is still a life.

They all started looking at Sun Xiaomai with contempt.

Shen Qing glanced at Jiang Ying a few more times and then quietly said to her third son, “Mother used to be poor at judging people, so in the future, avoid having too much contact with Sun Xiaomai and spend more time with her.”

Having learned from the experience with Sun Xiaomai, she spoke vaguely to avoid revealing too much.

Sure enough, when Jiang Xiangnan heard this, he beamed with joy and replied, “Mother, you finally understand. Aunt Ying is such a good person. She’s quick and righteous, and anyone in the village who needs help will find her. It’s just that you think she likes to show off because she’s a woman, and you don’t like her, calling her unladylike.”

She preferred to talk behind people’s backs, criticizing this family or that family.

According to him, among the whole of Qili Village, which family was poorer than theirs?

Which family had it worse than theirs?

At least others had mudbrick houses, but their own family still had a hut with walls made of reed sticks and yellow mud.

Big sister-in-law had two daughters.

Mother didn’t like it, but it wasn’t to the point of abandoning them, because big sister-in-law could still have more children.

But Sun Xiaomai kept telling Mother that no matter how many sons the old lady had, it didn’t matter. If the daughter-in-law didn’t have a son, it would be useless.

She kept going on about how the family could never have a son and would always have daughters.

The two of them would often gather secretly to discuss these things, and after a few days, Mother would cry and shout at home, saying she couldn’t go on…

Shen Qing finally remembered.

During their escape, it was thanks to Jiang Ying’s father, Jiang Yang, and her family that they made it safely through the journey!

Jiang Yang was a bodyguard who had traveled far and wide in his youth but had to retire after injuring his leg.

He had returned to the village to settle down.

Jiang Ying’s mother passed away early, so she had to take care of her younger brothers and couldn’t get married, becoming an old maid.

Everyone thought Jiang Ying would never marry, but it turned out that Jiang Yang had been injured while rescuing a young bodyguard.

The young man, grateful for his rescue, insisted on sending Jiang Yang back home, and when they arrived, he fell in love with Jiang Ying at first sight and married her.

The young man had no family or money, so instead of going to the city to buy a house, he decided to settle in Qili Village, where he could take care of his father-in-law, Jiang Yang, and his brothers-in-law.

On the escape journey, this united, capable, and kind-hearted family was truly a treasure.

Everyone else would have wanted to stick to them, but the original owner disliked Jiang Ying, thinking that her son was strong and capable and didn’t need help.

After several arguments, she insisted on separating, despite Jiang Yang’s repeated advice.

Shen Qing was worried.

The original owner didn’t get along with Jiang Ying.

How would she handle this before the escape?

However, repairing relationships could take time. For now, she had to go back and try making calligraphy brushes and soap to earn money!