Chapter 46

Huo Jinchen’s words made the women in the yard tense up. Yao Guizhi hurriedly asked, “What happened?” Huo Jinchen frowned, glanced at Yao Guizhi, hesitated for a couple of seconds, and then said, “Mom, my older brother stole something last night in town and got caught. He’s in jail now.”

Yao Guizhi’s body suddenly shook, and she looked at Huo Jinchen in disbelief. “What did you say? You said your older brother… stole something and got caught?!”

“Yes,” Huo Jinchen nodded, his expression even darker and more serious. “He had been slacking off at work, wandering around town, and met some bad people. Last night, those people took him to steal from a wealthy family in town. They didn’t get caught, but my older brother was arrested on the spot. When I arrived in town today, a friend told me about it. I went to see him, and he said he confessed to the police. But because he was involved in the theft, and the amount was significant, the police won’t let him out for now.”

“Oh my God, my heavens!” Yao Guizhi immediately slapped her thigh, her face full of disappointment and grief. “What kind of sin have I committed, to give birth to such a son? I had hoped he would turn things around, that he would make progress. But instead, he didn’t change at all; he even went and stole with those bad people! And now he’s caught! How embarrassing! This is going to ruin my reputation! And it’s almost the New Year, do you think he will get out before then? If not, what will happen to him in the jail?”

Yao Guizhi was overwhelmed with thoughts, her heart in turmoil.

Huo Jianzhang suddenly came out of the house, glaring at Huo Jinchen. “Say that again!”

“Dad,” Huo Jinchen was worried that Huo Jianzhang might not be able to bear the shock, especially since his health wasn’t good, but after a brief hesitation, he still said, “Older brother went in last night, and he may have to stay there for a while.”

“You scoundrel! He’s really a scoundrel!” Huo Jianzhang was furious, his teeth clenched as he spoke, every word filled with anger.

Yao Guizhi looked at Huo Jianzhang and said, “Although he made a mistake, we still have to find a way to get him out. It’s almost the New Year, we can’t—”

“You go figure it out. I’m not dealing with it. And do you think it’s that easy to get him out? Hah, don’t be so naive!” Huo Jianzhang angrily interrupted, glaring at Yao Guizhi. “This is all your fault! If you had been stricter with him, if you hadn’t pampered him, none of this would have happened! Now look, he’s in jail, are you happy now?”

“Why are you blaming everything on me? He turned out this way because of you too! You also spoiled him, so why are you only blaming me?” Yao Guizhi angrily retorted, her voice rising.

Lan Yun’er, who had been watching from the side, clicked her tongue. In fact, both of them were responsible for the situation in the eldest son’s family. They had spoiled him too much. If it weren’t for the indulgence of both parents, the eldest son’s family wouldn’t have caused so much trouble. The blame was on them both, and now it was all coming back to haunt them.

Indifferently, Lan Yun’er glanced at Yao Guizhi and Huo Jianzhang before pulling the stunned Zhong Cuitao aside and quickly entering the house. She didn’t want to get involved in the mess with Huo Junda. He deserved what happened, and she didn’t care if he stayed in jail longer.

Once inside, Lan Yun’er lazily fell onto the bed.

She decided to rest for a while before having lunch. Afterward, she planned to head to the town to meet the shopkeeper to discuss selling her beauty pills.

At lunch, neither Yao Guizhi nor Huo Jianzhang ate. They insisted on having Huo Jinchen accompany them to the town to check on Huo Junda. Although they knew they couldn’t help him, they still wanted to see him. Lan Yun’er and Zhong Cuitao, as well as the third family, finished lunch and prepared the herbs to be boiled for Huo Jinli.

Lan Yun’er put the herbs into the pot, added water, and said to Zhong Cuitao, “Boil half a bowl of this medicine. After it’s ready, bring it to Second Brother. Make sure he drinks it while it’s hot—the effect is best that way.”

Zhong Cuitao nodded. “I know, don’t worry, Xiaoyun.”

Lan Yun’er smiled and, while Zhong Cuitao bent down to tend to the fire, quickly dropped a pill into the pot. She covered the pill with the herbs and stirred it with chopsticks, so Zhong Cuitao wouldn’t notice the pill. As the water heated up, the pill would dissolve on its own. This pill was specially crafted for Huo Jinli’s leg injury, designed to speed up recovery.

After putting the chopsticks down, she quickly went back to her room to tidy up, packed the beauty pills, and rushed to the town.

Upon arriving in the town, Lan Yun’er went straight to the clothing store. She saw the shopkeeper, Bai Feng’e, and a few women eagerly waiting outside. As soon as Bai Feng’e saw Lan Yun’er, she waved her hand excitedly. “Hey, girl, you’re finally here!”

Lan Yun’er raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled faintly as she replied, “Looks like the beauty pill worked well for you.”

Bai Feng’e, who now looked much younger, smiled and said, “Of course, the effects are amazing. I only took half a pill, and look at me now! I’m so happy with the results.”

Lan Yun’er chuckled. “My beauty pills are made from high-quality herbs, so of course they’re effective.”

A woman in the shop hurried over and said, “I’ll buy ten pills! I want ten!”

Others soon followed, all eager to buy as many as they could. Lan Yun’er had only about thirty pills in total, and since they were five women asking for ten pills each, she couldn’t satisfy all their demands. She laid out what she had and said, “I only have this much. I can sell it all to you, but the price is 15 yuan per pill.”

“No problem, we’ll buy them!” The women quickly agreed, eager to try the effective pills.

Lan Yun’er smiled. “Alright, you can split them up. Just pay me afterward.”

After the transaction, Bai Feng’e pulled Lan Yun’er aside and said, “I have a friend who’s interested in your pills. He’d like to meet you. Do you have time today to see him?”

Lan Yun’er raised an eyebrow and asked, “A friend? Is he in the beauty business too? Is he trying to gather information about my pills?”

Bai Feng’e laughed and said, “No, he’s my nephew, just returned from a business trip to the capital. He heard about you and is very interested in meeting you.”

Lan Yun’er nodded. She would have to carefully consider this meeting, but for now, she agreed to go along.