Lu Qingyuan sat next to Fifth Aunt during the meal.

Seeing that she wasn’t eating much and was busy talking to Second Sister-in-law, Lu Qingyuan kept adding food to her bowl. “Aunt, eat more.”

“Yes, eat more,” Second Sister-in-law agreed, also adding food to her bowl.

Even after lunch, Fifth Uncle didn’t come to find them.

By then, Lu Qingyuan and Second Sister-in-law Lu had already gone to help tidy up the house Fifth Aunt had rented.

It was a three-room mud-brick house. Since no one had lived there for a long time, weeds had grown inside, and even some inedible mushrooms had sprouted.

【Is this place even livable? There are holes in the roof.】

Lu Qingyuan looked up and, sure enough, saw two holes in the roof of the main room.

Second Sister-in-law Lu followed her gaze. “It’s not a big deal. Let’s clean up first, and in the evening, when your second brother and the others get off work, they can come and patch up the roof.”

“I can help with that too,” Fifth Aunt said, rolling up her sleeves.

“Leave that to the men,” Second Sister-in-law Lu refused, pulling Fifth Aunt along to grab the hoes they had brought and clear out all the weeds and wild mushrooms in the house.

Lu Qingyuan had also brought some insect repellent powder, given to her by Second Aunt Lu.

Second Aunt’s father was a village doctor who knew how to make pest-repelling powder.

【Hahaha, you guys should go check out the live update! Shu Beiqiu went to get a haircut on his roommate’s advice and ended up shaving his head bald!】

Lu Qingyuan, busy cleaning, saw this comment appear over Second Sister-in-law’s head and was momentarily stunned.

【What? I need to see this! How do I switch to the live streaming perspective?】

【You can’t switch perspectives, only read the live novel updates. The livestream only follows the female lead’s side.】

【Hahaha, I just saw it! Shu Beiqiu came back to the dorm with a dark expression, so pissed that he skipped lunch!】

【Honestly, he still looks good. He’s handsome, so even being bald suits him.】

Lu Qingyuan couldn’t picture Shu Beiqiu with a shaved head. She lowered her head and continued working, hiding the smile at the corners of her lips.

At that moment, Shu Beiqiu was working with a hat on.

Wu Xiankang kept sneaking glances at his covered head, unable to hold back his curiosity.

“Brother Wu,” Shu Beiqiu called his name in a warning tone.

Wu Xiankang coughed twice and pretended to be busy.

“You know,” he finally said, “they say being bald is the ultimate test of whether a man is truly handsome. And you, my friend, are definitely handsome!”

Shu Beiqiu didn’t feel consoled at all.

Other than when he was a child, he had never shaved his head before.

That barber didn’t even leave a bit of stubble behind.

It felt weird—completely smooth.

Even with the hat on, every gust of wind made his head feel chilly.

Thank goodness Lu Qingyuan wasn’t around. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have the face to see her.

As he worked, Shu Beiqiu began calculating how long it would take for his hair to grow back.

Meanwhile, after finishing the cleaning, Lu Qingyuan returned home and started preparing dinner with Mother Lu.

Out of nowhere, Mother Lu said, “Qingyuan, tomorrow, go to the county hospital and buy the medicine your grandmother used to take. She only has enough for two more days.”

“Okay.”

【Perfect chance to go see Bald Shu!】

【Bald Shu probably wishes his hair would grow back immediately!】

Lu Qingyuan lowered her eyes and added firewood to the stove.

“Take some food with you too,” Mother Lu continued. “We still have a few jars of garlic chili sauce. Bring one for Xiao Shu. Also, take a jar of pickled wild onions.”

Lu Qingyuan blinked. She had originally planned to give Shu Beiqiu some time to adjust and visit him later. But now, it seemed she had no choice but to go tomorrow.

Her lips curled into a smile. “Alright!”

By late afternoon, Lu Yanyan returned home, only to find the house packed with people.

As soon as Grandma Yao saw her, she pointed at her nose and scolded, “Look at you! Always running around, never coming home. Who did you learn this from? Must be from your mother! Like mother, like daughter!”

“Heh,” Lu Yanyan rolled her eyes. After being reborn, she disliked her grandmother even more. “I have my dad’s blood in me too. If anything, I should take after him. And since Dad is your son, I guess that means you’re not so great yourself, huh?”

“You—!” Grandma Yao was furious. “How dare you talk back! Just like your mother! What did I do to deserve this? My poor son, marrying such a woman and having such a granddaughter…”

Lu Yanyan ignored her completely.

She walked into her room, only to find a bunch of unfamiliar items scattered around. Her brows furrowed as she gathered them all and threw them into the main hall.

“Why is all this filthy junk in my room? My room isn’t a trash dump!”

She had no affection for her great-uncles and their families. To her, they were nothing but freeloaders and leeches.

Lu Yanyan suddenly remembered why they had moved in.

In her past life, those great-uncles and cousins had gambled away their house and came to live with them, refusing to leave. They had caused her mother so much stress that she nearly fell ill.

Back then, she had been naive and foolish.

She had been too caught up in dating a troublemaker from a neighboring village, listening to her grandmother’s manipulative words, and constantly blaming her mother for everything.

But in this lifetime, she wasn’t the same naive girl anymore.

“Rebelling against the heavens! Rebelling against the heavens! Old man, open your eyes and take a look. This money-losing wretch is bullying her own grandmother like this!”

Grandma Yao slid off the stool and rolled back and forth on the ground, cursing nonstop.

Her younger brothers and nephews also pointed at Lu Yanyan, and Lu Yanyan argued with them in return.

When Fifth Aunt and Second Aunt Lu returned to the Lu family compound, they heard the commotion from afar.

They quickly pulled Lu Yanyan away.

“Are you stupid? There are so many of them, none of them have a good temper. If each of them gave you just one punch, you’d be in serious trouble!”

Fifth Aunt was frightened at the thought.

Lu Yanyan clung to her arm and softened her voice. “I just can’t stand seeing Grandma scolding you like that.”

“Alright, your mother has already rented a house from your Third Great-Uncle. From now on, you and Qinghong will move in with me.”

Fifth Aunt was touched by her daughter’s willingness to stand up for her, so her tone also softened.

[Live broadcast ended. 34 new fans added. Total fans: 264.]

As soon as the livestream ended in Lu Qingyuan’s mind, Fifth Aunt and the others returned.

Fifth Aunt set down the borrowed hoe and thanked Mother Lu and the others before preparing to go home to gather pots, bowls, and grain.

“Wait until Qingyuan’s father and uncles come back before you go,” Mother Lu said, worried that Fifth Aunt and her daughters might be bullied.

“Sister-in-law, don’t worry. I already spoke to Sister Lan, and she’ll be bringing people over soon to help pack up.”

Sister Lan was the wife of the team leader.

Hearing this, Lu Qingyuan felt relieved and turned to Lu Yanyan, who was staring at her. “Yanyan, if anything happens, come find us.”

“Okay.” Lu Yanyan couldn’t help but think her cousin was truly beautiful. She wore simple clothes and was busy working, yet she still looked stunning in a way she couldn’t quite describe.

Since Sister Lan, an outsider, was present, Grandma Yao, who was obsessed with saving face, didn’t dare to stop them or scold her daughter-in-law and granddaughter, even though she was extremely displeased.

As the group carried their belongings away, Grandma Yao trembled with anger and ordered her youngest brother to call her son back.

“Tell him to bring those two disgraceful things back home!”

Renting a place outside?

Did they have too much money to burn?

And from Third Great-Uncle of all people! Grandma Yao and Third Great-Uncle’s wife never got along, and she didn’t want their family’s troubles to become gossip for others.

That evening, as Lu Qingyuan’s family sat together for dinner, Second Aunt Lu mentioned helping with the move.

“By the way, was the roof repaired?”

“It was,” Second Brother Lu nodded.

Second Aunt Lu had asked him to fix it, so he had gone over after work.

“That’s good. Otherwise, if it rains, there would be leaks everywhere.”

Second Aunt Lu felt reassured.

“Fifth Aunt was smart to bring Sister Lan. Grandma Yao values her reputation too much. She’ll have to swallow her grievances.”

Eldest Sister-in-law Lu found it satisfying.

She still remembered how a year ago, Jiasheng and Lusheng were playing at the crossroads when Grandma Yao inexplicably hit them each once. When they returned home, both had bumps on their heads.

Grandma Lu had marched over with her sons and daughters-in-law, demanding an explanation. But Grandma Yao had wailed and sworn she had done nothing, accusing the children of lying.

That matter had ended with Grandma Lu giving Grandma Yao a slap in the face.

Eldest Sister-in-law Lu never forgot about it and still harbored resentment.

Grandma Lu sipped her yam porridge and nodded at her eldest grandson’s wife. “She really cares about face, yet everything she does is disgraceful.”

“That’s exactly it,” Mother Lu said, baffled by how Grandma Yao could be obsessed with appearances while constantly doing things that made people look down on her.

“After you finish eating, gather some of the other aunts and sisters-in-law and go over to sit with them. With outsiders around, they’ll think twice before dragging them back.”

After dinner, Eldest Sister-in-law Lu and the others went out.

Since it would be inappropriate for the men to get involved, only the women went.

Meanwhile, Lu Qingyuan boiled water to wash her hair and take a bath. She wanted to sleep early since she had to go to the county the next morning.

Half-asleep, she vaguely heard Second Aunt Lu’s excited voice from the main room, saying that Grandma Yao’s younger brothers and nephews had gone to the mud-brick house to drag Lu Yanyan and her mother back. However, upon seeing so many people there, they shrank back and didn’t say a word.

Even Fifth Uncle was there, but he remained silent and didn’t try to persuade Lu Yanyan and her mother to return.

Lu Qingyuan yawned, pulled up her blanket, and went back to sleep.

At dawn, after finishing breakfast, Lu Qingyuan packed her belongings into a small bamboo basket, slung it over her back, and set out.

“Aunt, come back early!”

Jiasheng clung to the door, looking at her eagerly.

“Aunt, I want candy,” Lusheng peeked out from behind his brother and sniffed.

“Alright, I will buy some for you.” Lu Qingyuan patted their little heads one by one before heading out.

As she passed the commune entrance, she ran into Tan Chang’an. Lu Qingyuan greeted him with a polite nod and continued on to the main road to wait for the county-bound bus.

Tan Chang’an had a strange expression. He turned around and strode straight into the commune office.

Lu Qingyuan was in luck. After waiting only a few minutes, the bus arrived.

Since it wasn’t market day, the bus was mostly empty. Lu Qingyuan found a window seat and placed her bamboo basket at her feet.

The ride was bumpy, and the basket would jolt with the uneven road if not held steady.

Lu Qingyuan was afraid her jar would break, so she kept a hand on the basket to keep it steady.

Forty minutes later, the bus stopped at the county station. Lu Qingyuan got off with her basket on her back.

She first went to the hospital to buy medicine for Grandma Lu, then wandered through the market, purchasing some items before heading to the entrance of the machinery factory.

Following Shu Beiqiu’s instructions, she told the gatekeeper his name and worker ID.

The old gatekeeper looked her up and down before suddenly grinning. “Are you Shu boy’s partner?”

“Mm.” Lu Qingyuan blushed and nodded shyly.

“This kid is really lucky. Don’t worry, young lady. He’s a good one. He’s been working at the factory for a few years now, and I’ve never seen him get close to any other girl.”

The old gatekeeper laughed heartily before pressing the factory’s loudspeaker button and calling out Shu Beiqiu’s name.

“…Comrade Shu Beiqiu, your partner is waiting for you at the front gate. Please come over immediately.”

Shu Beiqiu was completely stunned.

He knew his partner was coming to the county, but he didn’t expect her to arrive so soon.

Because a colleague had told him yesterday that hair grows back slowly under a hat, he had decided to come to work today without one.

“I’ll go borrow a hat for you!”

Wu Xiankang shouted.

Shu Beiqiu raised a hand and touched his shiny bald head. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

He really didn’t want his partner to see him like this.