Chapter 46 : Calculation

“Yinyin, whether our family can live well depends on you. If you can get that thing, then forget about two hundred, two thousand, or even more wealth we’ll become rich, and you’ll be the great contributor to our family,” Xu Ziying said, taking a few bites of food. While Shu Ruxue was still basking in that warmth, she continued to flatter her and gave her words of encouragement.

“Mom, don’t worry! I’ll write to them often, telling them about how hard life is in the countryside, and ask them to send more money,” Shu Ruxue said confidently. Besides, her sister and brother weren’t home, so she was the only one eating with her parents. There was meat and eggs on the table, seemingly made especially for her. She felt touched and was already thinking about how to get back to the city quickly to retrieve the lotus jade pendant.

“Well, you should urge them first. Find a chance to go back and thoroughly search the entire Shu family. If you can’t find it, report it! It’s a matter of justice to kill relatives. Your brother’s brother-in-law from the Yue family is connected to GWH in Beijing. You can use that as a legitimate reason to search,” Li Gang said, his eyes dim with eagerness to get the jade pendant. The motherland was already pressing him. It was said that pendant was the key to unlocking the Chen family’s treasure.

The Chen family in the late Qing Dynasty was so wealthy it rivaled a country. But after the country’s defeat, the Chen family’s fortune was gradually gathered and hidden in a secret place, known only to the direct bloodline. The only direct bloodline of the Chen family was Chen Wanyan, Shu Zhisheng’s deceased wife, Chen Wan.

However, it seemed the Shu family did not know Chen Wan’s true identity, nor did they know about the Chen family’s treasure.

“Dad, I will try my best to find that thing. Can you not report the Shu family?” Shu Ruxue asked hesitantly. She had been with the Shu family for half a year, and their love had made her attached. She didn’t want to lose the affection she got from them, which she never received from her own parents.

“What? You want to be their daughter, don’t want me and your mom anymore, and don’t care about our family’s future?” Li Gang’s eyes turned cold instantly as he looked sharply at Shu Ruxue.

“Dad, I didn’t mean that. I’ll listen to whatever you decide,” Shu Ruxue said nervously. She feared Li Gang’s harsh gaze as if it threatened her life.

“Good to know. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to bear the consequences,” Li Gang said with a softened expression but still a threatening tone.

“Mom, Dad, I’m just worried Yun Siying might have an accident. It’s better to marry her off as soon as possible. Nangong Ruochen has grown up with her since childhood, maybe he will take her with him when he returns to the city,” Shu Ruxue said, trying to change the subject and suppress her fear and dread. She hated Yun Siying and wanted to see her dragged into trouble.

“You saw what happened that day. She’s not someone who can be easily controlled or manipulated,” Xu Ziying said between bites of rice. In her mind, he was thinking that it would be easy to get her to marry. If gentle methods didn’t work, they would resort to harsher ones. The only problem was that the money she carried had not yet reached their hands.

Shu Ruxue glanced at her parents’ expressions and knew they were keeping this matter close to their hearts. She smiled with satisfaction and ate another bowl of rice. Then she leisurely returned to the Youth League Home.

“Zhigang, call your third brother tomorrow and tell him I’m very ill. Ask him to come home as soon as possible,” Zhang Fengying said, looking at her youngest son. Zhiqiang was her most promising son, but since he was injured last year, the Li family had been delaying his wedding and canceling the engagement. He had also become withdrawn.

“Mom, what are you planning to do to trick my third brother back?” Xue Zhigang’s mind flashed with the image of Yun Siying’s beautiful, fair, glowing face. When he heard his mother’s order, he immediately thought of his third brother’s marriage with the Li family.

“Zhigang, Shu Ruxue has a strong background. If you can win her over, you won’t have to worry about food and clothing in the future, and you might even get a stable job,” Zhang Fengying said, looking at her most beloved youngest son and giving him advice.

“Mom, your son will work hard.” Xue Zhigang knew his parents doted on him and would do everything to fulfill his wishes. That was why the brothers in the family were not close to him.

He wasn’t good at working, nor good at studying. His mother’s advice seemed practical to him. If he could really marry Shu Ruxue, he might be able to settle down in Beijing someday.

The eldest brother Xue Zhiguo and the second brother Xue Zhiqi were already married. When they heard their mother’s words, they understood her plan. After all, everyone in the village now knew that Yun Siying had a huge sum of money.

Xue Dasao and Xue Ersao didn’t say anything. Their mother-in-law was calculating, and they too would benefit from whatever advantages she secured, so they looked forward to it happily.

Yun Siying, who had gone to bed early for a nap, was unaware of the schemes the Xue and Li families were plotting against her. At that moment, she was sound asleep. When Yun Siying heard the bell, she quickly put on her clothes, got out of bed, washed up, carried the kettle on her back, and followed the educated youths to the fields.

Just as they walked out of the educated youth courtyard, Shu Ruxue looked at Yun Siying’s brisk steps with displeasure and hurried after her. Seeing her clean, white hands, she felt jealous and said, “Some people only know how to avoid work all day, and now they walk so lightly.”

Not hearing Yun Siying’s reply, she continued, “Look at her white, tender hands. She must be lazy and avoiding work.”

Shu Ruxue looked at Yun Siying again but still didn’t get a response, so she called out, “Yun Siying, I’m talking about you!”

“Oh, are you done? If not, continue…. I can hear you,” Yun Siying calmly glanced back and then kept walking forward. Shu Ruxue felt like she was punching cotton.

“Comrade Lin, look, this is your partner. You’re doing all the heavy work alone while she’s shirking hers. You can’t cover for her and let her continue making mistakes,” Shu Ruxue persisted.

“Comrade Shu, that’s between me and Comrade Yun. It’s none of your business,”

“You’re ungrateful! I’m standing up for you, and you don’t appreciate it? Humph!” Shu Ruxue was nearly furious. What kind of charm did Yun Siying have that made everyone like her?

When they arrived at the field, everyone continued their assigned work from the morning. Yun Siying practiced a bit more, working for a while like she had earlier. She didn’t push Lin Zikang, just followed his pace slowly.