Divorce with three kids? I'll build a house and eat meat, driving my in-laws crazy.

Chapter 43 Distant Nephew
Li Ruru was startled. With such a big fuss, could it be that the county magistrate has arrived?
But then she thought that the county magistrate and she, a peasant woman, had no connection whatsoever.

No, she went to court against the Chen family the day before yesterday.

Just then, a young man stepped down from the carriage.

He was holding a fan in his hand, looking quite elegant.

This person was none other than Chu Xiu.

"It's you?!" Li Ruru exclaimed in surprise. "You wanted to see me? Is something wrong?"

Chu Xiu asked, "Madam Li, are you making konjac tofu?"

He knew she would be selling it first thing tomorrow morning, so he had to finish preparing it tonight, otherwise he definitely wouldn't have enough time by early morning.

Li Ruru asked warily, "You want my secret recipe?"

Xiao Yishan was a little nervous, and he didn't have any useful tools at hand, so he could only protect the three girls for the time being.

He whispered, "These people are up to no good. Stay still and don't move."

Aunt Li's business is gradually getting on track, and it will only grow bigger and bigger in the future, making her a lot of money.

Secret recipes are a money-making machine; we absolutely cannot let them fall into the hands of others.

Chu Xiu noticed Li Ruru's nervousness and suddenly laughed loudly, "Li Madam, what kind of person do you take me for?"

Is he such a despicable person? How could he be!

Besides, does he look poor? Why would he need to forcibly seize a peasant woman's secret recipe to get rich?
He was the son of the county magistrate, born superior to others, and all he needed to do in this life was lie low.

He wouldn't do something as laborious and mentally taxing as making konjac tofu.

Li Ruru remained vigilant. "Then why did you bring so many people to our house?"

If these people want to steal her secret recipe, Li Ruru will only have two choices.

She could either pull out the hunting rifle from her spatial storage and take them down.

She could either tell the truth or sell something else in the future. There are many ways to get there. Her path of selling konjac tofu was actually very difficult.

Making glass or selling soap would probably be more profitable.

Chu Xiu usually has a fiery temper, but he unconsciously becomes gentle when facing Li Ruru.

He said gently, "Madam Li has to make so much konjac tofu all by herself, it must be so hard. I'll get these servants to come and help you."

Li Ruru didn't believe in free lunches; even if they did, they wouldn't fall into her lap.

She said coldly, "I don't need your help. I didn't do this alone. I hired people, and my children will help me too."

Xiao Yishan nodded, "That's right, we have enough people, we don't need you."

Er Ya chimed in, "That's right, that's right."

Chu Xiu waved his hand and said to the servants, "Did you hear that? You can go back now. We don't need you here anymore."

The servants were very obedient; without asking why, they all left in unison.

Only Xiao Wu was left.

Xiao Wu moved his lips, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he said nothing.

Li Ruru glanced at Chu Xiu sideways, "Aren't you leaving?"

Chu Xiu shamelessly stepped forward and said, "Madam Li, I really want to help you, please let me stay here."

To show his determination, he added, "Okay, I'll do whatever you ask me to do. How about I get a free meal here?"

"Don't your family feed you?" Li Ruru asked.

Chu Xiu looked troubled. "I always find it hard to swallow the delicacies at home, but I ate two bowls of the konjac tofu that Li Niangzi made. It was so delicious that I couldn't stop eating it."

Seeing that Li Ruru still didn't react, he simply said, "How about I pay one tael of silver for a meal?"

Upon hearing this, Li Ruru's icy eyes instantly lit up. "Are you really going to give it to me?"

Chu Xiu chuckled upon hearing this and said, "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond."

As she spoke, she had Xiao Wu hand Li Ruru five taels of silver. "Hehe, I'll eat for five days first." Li Ruru accepted the silver without any hesitation and then said, "Everyone in our family has to work. If you don't work, it will affect others."

You either need to work with us, or you need to show up at mealtimes.

The old man from the province was dangling in front of her.

Xiao Wu thought his young master would be angry, so he preemptively refused, saying, "My young master can't do these dirty farm chores."

Li Ruru snorted coldly, "Then you two great Buddhas can rest in the carriage first. We'll call you when the food is ready."

"It would be foolish not to make money when you can," Li Ruru realized. This Chu Xiu wasn't a bad person; he was just a bit playful.

He was probably used to eating delicacies and wanted to try some new flavors.

Eating farm-style food once in a while is fine, but eating it every day would be unbearable for a rich kid like him.

She was certain that it wouldn't take five days, just two or three, before Chu Xiu would slink home on his own.

Li Ruru opened the door and drove the cow to the back yard. Xiao Yishan returned the cow to the scholar's family and then ran over to help with the work.

When Pan Dayan came to deliver the konjac, she immediately noticed a strange man at Li Ruru's house.

She asked gossipily, "Who is that? She has such fair and delicate skin."

Li Ruru glanced at Chu Xiu, who was playing with Qiqi with Sanya.

Sure enough, this rich young master spends all his time either flirting with cats or teasing dogs.

"He's my distant nephew, he'll be staying here for a couple of days."

"Oh, you're quite handsome. Are you married?"

"Aunt Pan, you should go back and cook."

Li Ruru laughed and chased Pan Dayan away. The group then began to help make konjac tofu, without avoiding Chu Xiu at all.

When the konjac tofu was ready, Chu Xiu realized that the so-called secret recipe was actually wood ash water.

"Lady Li, you're so clever," he praised, "You're amazing to have come up with such a method."

After making the konjac tofu, Li Ruru quickly prepared the meal.

Today's meal was quite sumptuous, with a large bowl of milky white crucian carp soup, a plate of garlic-flavored pork ribs, and two kinds of wild vegetables.

Of course, potatoes are indispensable; shredded potatoes and roasted potatoes have become essential dishes for every meal in Li Ruru's family.

The three children never got tired of eating it, and Xiao Yishan also loved it.

"time to eat!"

Li Ruru called on everyone to fetch water and wash their hands, and Chu Xiu and Xiao Wu obediently lined up to wash their hands as well.

Sanya washed Qiqi's paws and patted its head, saying, "I was going to bring you some biscuits today, but what a pity."

Unfortunately, the sesame seed cakes were given by the mother to her grandmother, who couldn't afford to eat.

Qiqi let out a howl, as if expressing its dissatisfaction.

"Stop barking." Li Ruru glared at it and tossed it a large bone.

Qiqi pounced and snatched the bone in its mouth, then hid in a corner and slowly began to gnaw on it.

Li Ruru found it amusing; this wolf was really becoming more and more like a dog.

Chu Xiu was very satisfied with today's meal and enjoyed it immensely; every bite tasted just like his mother's.

It's delicious. I knew I made the right choice coming here. He silently made up his mind that he would stay here from now on.

Lady Li must have cooked such a lavish meal for him tonight.

To entertain him, they emptied their pockets.

Otherwise, which farming family could afford to eat meat, let alone two plates at once?

To thank Li Ruru for her hospitality, Chu Xiu said, "Your ex-husband's family is quite annoying. Do you want me to teach them a lesson for you?"
And that old woman Liu at the market, she's been trying to find out your family's secret recipe. I can take care of her too.

(End of this chapter)