Chapter 109

When Li Shugen bought materials to renovate Zhao Dali’s dilapidated house, it stirred up quite a commotion in Changle Town.

Everyone knew Li Shugen was a craftsman; many people had hired him before, so taking on a job wasn’t unusual. The problem was that this time, he was renovating Zhao Dali’s nearly collapsed house. How could that be?

Ever since the drunkard Zhao Niu died and his son Goudan disappeared, the house had been abandoned for about six months. There had been no lights or signs of life, so it was considered forsaken. But now, Li Shugen was renovating it?

Who decided that? Goudan hadn’t returned!

The townspeople buzzed with gossip, some even directly asking Li Shugen. After all, gossiping was a common pastime. But how did Li Shugen respond?

The one paying to renovate the dilapidated house was Wang’s eldest granddaughter?

What kind of twist was this? Why was Wang’s eldest daughter renovating the house? What use did she have for it?

Li Shugen couldn’t provide a clear answer. He was just a worker getting paid to do a job. If they couldn’t get answers from him, they might as well ask the person herself.

“Yuan’er, what made you decide to renovate Goudan’s dilapidated house? You’re not planning to live there, are you?” Madam Zheng asked curiously when Wang Yuan’er came to buy things.

Wang Yuan’er had her story ready. She said, “Of course not. Before Goudan left, he gave me money to look after his house. I’ve been busy lately, and seeing the house about to collapse, I thought I’d have Uncle Shugen fix it up.”

“Oh, is that so?” Madam Zheng looked skeptical.

Wang Yuan’er remained calm and smiled. “Yes, that’s right. He said I could use the house while he was away.”

Hearing this, Madam Zheng felt something was off but couldn’t pinpoint what.

Wang Yuan’er changed the subject, “Many people in town are looking for jobs at the river office. I noticed your eldest son there, too. Is he working?”

Madam Zheng sighed, “The shop is just me and his father now. At the river office, they provide food and pay twenty copper coins a day, plus meat. It’s good work.”

Wang Yuan’er agreed. In these times, how many farming families could afford to eat meat daily?

On her way home, people gossiped about her renovating Zhao Dali’s house. When she got home, Grandma Wang and Wang Min’er were waiting for her, asking about Zhao’s house. Wang Yuan’er repeated her story.

But it was evident Grandma Wang didn’t believe her. She coldly warned, “You have big ideas and strong wings now. I don’t care what you’re planning. Be careful, or you’ll end up with nothing.” With that, she turned and went inside.

Wang Min’er smugly approached, “You’re just scheming for that house, aren’t you? I always knew your relationship with him wasn’t normal. Watch out for gossip.”

“Mind your own business!” Wang Yuan’er snapped before walking away.

Chapter 110

That evening, Grandma Wang spoke to Grandpa Wang about Wang Yuan’er renovating Zhao’s house: “Those two houses are practically falling apart, and she’s spending several taels of silver to fix them. Is she possessed?”

“Didn’t she say she has the house deed? With the construction of the river office, many families are coming to seek jobs and need places to stay. Maybe she’s planning to rent it out,” Grandpa Wang said, puffing on his pipe. “Because of this, our shop’s business has improved. Many people are coming to order cabinets and tables.”

Grandma Wang remained silent for a while before saying, “This girl seems almost magical. She’s so different from before. Do you think something’s wrong?”

Being a devout Buddhist, she was deeply superstitious and found Wang Yuan’er’s near-magical behavior unsettling. In the past, this girl made marinated eggs. Now, she’s making something called fermented tofu. Who taught her? If she had known how to do this before, why wait until now?

The more Grandma Wang thought about Wang Yuan’er’s actions, the more she found them strange, feeling the girl was no longer the same, though she was.

“What’s the problem? These girls lost their parents and became more responsible and capable than Second Brother’s children. Even Lan’er is better than Min’er. They’ve been forced to grow up. They had their parents’ support before, but what do they have now? How long can we old folks help? Her Second Uncle… sigh!” Grandpa Wang said, expressing his belief that the girls had matured due to losing their parents.

Wang Yuan’er’s abilities were a bit hidden, showing she was wary, not fully trusting them or her Second Uncle and Aunt. If they hadn’t been biased, the children wouldn’t have such distrust.

“Forget the past biases. The main family has only these children left. We should help them as much as possible. The dead are gone; let’s not hold onto grudges,” Grandpa Wang advised.

Pausing in her needlework, Grandma Wang retorted angrily, “Do you think I want to hold grudges? Madam Liang demanded to split the family even on her deathbed, making us look bad. People think we neglected those children.”

She wanted to be kind to the children, but they treated her like enemies. Mentioning their deceased eldest son and daughter-in-law, the couple fell silent.

After the Dragon Boat Festival in May, the townsfolk of Changle were still enjoying life when they heard a series of long, mournful bell tolls early on the sixth day of June.

Nine tolls signaled the emperor’s death. Soon, guards beat gongs and drums, announcing, “The emperor has passed away! The emperor has passed away!”

Everyone in town knelt towards the capital, crying loudly.

Kneeling by the roadside, Wang Yuan’er pressed her lips together. The country mourned, and history repeated itself. Like in her previous life, the emperor had died after the Dragon Boat Festival. So, had the Crown Prince killed the emperor again? Such a tragic event of a son killing his father was heart-wrenching.

Would the Fifth Prince, King Jing, ascend the throne again in this life?