Divorced by her husband's family and rejected by her own! She defiantly turned her life around

Qingye and Lei Yi each drove a horse-drawn carriage, while the other five people each drove an oxcart, slowly heading out of the city.

After leaving the city for about a mile, they met up with Qingwu and the others.

Lightly, she brought the carriage to a stop. "Lei Yi, distribute the food in the carriage to everyone. Once everyone has eaten their fill, let's get going."

Lei Yi carried a basket of steamed buns and told Qingwu and Qingye to take them and eat first. "We've all eaten and aren't hungry. These were bought by the master for you. If you can't finish them, just leave them and eat them whenever you're hungry."

"Thank you both."

Lei gave each of them two steamed buns and a mantou. This amount of food was nothing to these grown men, especially since they had been starving for so many days. When the brothers saw these big buns, they were like hungry wolves smelling blood.

Their eating habits were simply unbearable to watch. They would devour a bun in just a few bites, wolfing it down, probably without even knowing what the bun tasted like. Some of them choked so much that their eyes rolled back in their heads.

When the others saw this, they quickly patted his back and chest, and gave him some water to help him recover.

"Even if you were starving, you wouldn't act like this. The food was right there; who would fight you for it? Look, you almost lost your lives!"

"Please excuse our poor fellow ladies. Since we were sold off, the most we've ever eaten is half a cornbread. We've been surviving like this for almost two months now."

I ate two steamed buns and a mantou at home, and with some food in my stomach, I felt like I had regained a lot of my strength.

"You can't eat too much now, be careful not to upset your stomach."

The master bought clothes for you in the county town, but the ready-made clothes in the clothing shops are not enough, so each person can't get a set. When we get to the town, we'll go to the shops there to take a look.

If the shops in town can't buy enough, those of you who didn't get your share should make do for now; Madam will arrange for clothes to be made for you.

"Thank you for your kindness, Master. Thank you both, ladies. We will always remember your kindness."

"Have you all rested enough? We need to hurry on our way. We have to go to several places today, otherwise we won't finish before dark."

"We've rested enough, let's go now."

The oxcart and horse-drawn carriages went ahead, with the others following behind. As they walked, they muttered to themselves, "That woman is quite nice to us. She buys us food and clothes. She's not a stingy or mean person."

"What do you mean by 'that woman'? That's our master. Be careful, or our boss will beat you up. Remember your place. How many times has our boss told you?"

"This person is just bad with words. What I really wanted to say was that our master is beautiful and kind-hearted."

"Our master's family is from the countryside, so of course we'll be sent to do farm work. That's what our master said when he bought us."

"You say we're all armed with knives and guns, but we don't know how to do farm work!"

"No one is born knowing how to do this or that; everyone learns it later, right?"

"Stop thinking about those irrelevant things, recognize the situation, and adapt to the current environment."

They whispered among themselves the whole way, and Qingwu heard everything they said. These big men were quite talkative, daring to criticize their master.

"I say, you bunch of grown men are just like those gossipy old women, daring to speak ill of your master!"

They were a little embarrassed by what Qingwu said, and scratched their heads awkwardly.

"If you're full, save your energy. The road ahead is still long. If you have the strength, walk faster."

The group of grown men were somewhat indignant at being spoken to like that by a woman, and they quickened their pace.

Liu Siyue breathed a sigh of relief after finishing her business. Ruxue immediately rushed over, "Siyue, are you done with everything? Were those men servants you bought?"

"Things are almost done. Those are the servants I bought for the household."

"Those people look so fierce. Our family is all women; I hope they won't have any malicious intentions?"

"They are slaves, but they are skilled in martial arts. I bought them to protect my family. The world outside is unstable, and we need to have our own people."

I've almost finished with my business; now I should go check on Sister Wang's shop.

"Ningxiang, go and invite Madam Xu over."

Before long, Wang Zhilan arrived with Ningxiang. Upon seeing her, she smiled and joked, "Sister Liu is such a busy person. Since arriving in the county town, you haven't stopped for a moment."

"Of course, we should be able to get everything done in one trip."

"Shall we go to the shop and take a look now?"

"Great! Let's go now. Everything's ready; we're just waiting for you, the master chef, to come and give us your guidance!"

"Chenxin, I'm leaving Yao'er in your care. I'm going to Sister Wang's shop."

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of the child."

"Of course I feel at ease leaving the child with you."

"Sister Liu, please ride in my carriage. We can chat on the way."

"good!"

Liu Siyue, Wang Zhilan, and Ruxue stood at the gate of the Xu residence waiting for the carriage. At this moment, a young man came out of the Xu residence. "Mother, are we going out again?"

"Yes, Mother is going to the pastry shop?"

"Xi'er, come here quickly, let me introduce you. This is your Aunt April, whom I often mention to you. You haven't met your aunt before."

Xu Jingxi stepped forward, cupped his hands in a bow, and said, "Nephew Xu Jingxi greets Aunt."

Liu Siyue was a little embarrassed. How did she suddenly have such a big nephew?

"Young Master Xu, there's no need for such formalities. As an elder, it's only right to present a gift upon our first meeting. I'm going out with your mother now, but I'll give you the gift when I return."

"My aunt has taken good care of my mother, and I should go to her house to express my gratitude. How can I let my aunt spend money on me?"

"Aunt, please just call me Jingxi or Xi'er from now on. Calling me Young Master Xu would sound too formal."

Liu Siyue clicked her tongue in amazement. "Listen to this! Listen to this! Scholars really know how to talk!"

"Xi'er, this is Miss Ruxue, your aunt's cousin."

"I have met Miss Ruxue."

She had noticed Xu Jingxi when he came out earlier and secretly admired how handsome he was. Now that they were so close, her face flushed red.

"Young Master Xu, there's no need for such formalities!" Liu Ruxue's voice was soft and gentle, each word resonating in Xu Jingxi's heartstrings.

Xu Jingxi stole a glance at the woman in front of him and thought she was bright and beautiful, and so different from others.

The coachman stopped the carriage in front of them and placed the footstools. "Ladies, please get in the carriage."

"Xi'er, Mother is going to the shop. Take care of yourself."

"I know, Mother, please don't worry."

"Sister Wang, you are so lucky! Your son is handsome and filial."

"This child has been sensible and obedient since he was a child. After passing the preliminary examination at the age of 12, he has been studying in the prefectural city. This year, he is preparing for the provincial examination. His maternal grandparents have been taking care of him, and he does not often return to the county town."

"You're such a good mother, you don't have to worry about anything, your son has grown up all by himself."

It seems Jingxi has a natural talent for studying; he'll likely achieve great things in the future.

"I don't have any grand ambitions. I only wish for a peaceful and safe life, and that I can grow old with the one I love and live a happy and fulfilling life."

"Young people always have to go out and make their own way in the world. As their mother, you can't hold them back!"

How old is Jingxi this year?

"He's already 15, and next year he'll have his coming-of-age ceremony. I should start arranging a wife for him!"

"With a man as outstanding as Jingxi, how could you possibly worry about not finding a good daughter-in-law?"

Liu Ruxue listened carefully to their conversation. Young Master Xu was so good at studying that he had already become a student. If he passed the provincial examination this year, he would become a scholar.

He is not only good at studying, but also good-looking. What kind of woman could be worthy of him?

Xu Jingxi turned around and went back to his study. He picked up a book and looked at it, but instead of words, he saw Liu Ruxue's image.