Chapter 119
119 Taking Revenge
The people from Hu Village helped their injured onto the handcart and were pushed back by the women.
Chen Yaohui, the villagers, and Li Yu’s family also hurriedly went back to harvest the rice. Ruyi said to Li Yu, “Miss, are we just going to let it go?”
Li Yu snorted. “How can it be that easy? He keeps coming to look for trouble. Doesn’t he like to play dirty? Let’s play with him. Ruyi, don’t you know how to catch snakes and insects? Go catch some poisonous snakes and insects. Let’s go to Ye Ju’s house to play tonight.”
Ruyi laughed at that. “You mean to scare them with snakes and insects?”
Li Yu smiled and said, “Just wait and see!”
“Then I’ll go up the mountain to catch snakes and insects and harvest them while Uncle Zhou watches,” Ruyi replied with a smile.
“Okay, go ahead! I’ll go to town and see where his house is exactly?”
“Miss, I went to take a look the previous time. His family lives in the alley near our shop. When we come out of the back door of our shop, we can see it after turning left for about 15 minutes. The one with the highest green bricks, tiles, and courtyard walls is the Ye residence.”
“Okay, get busy! Be careful.”
“Yes.” Ruyi took a few steps back and turned to drive the mule cart into the manor.
Li Yu drove the mule cart home. She took a sum of money and handed it to Old Madam Liu. She said to Old Madam Liu, “Grandma Liu, come to town with me. Go to town and buy a few sets of pig lungs and pig liver. Don’t tell anyone that you live in Phoenix Village.”
Granny Liu took the money. “Got it, Miss.”
Li Yu changed her clothes and drove the car to town with Old Madam Liu. When they were about to reach the town, Li Yu saw that there was no one around and said to Old Madam Liu, “Get out of the car here and walk straight to the river. The meat and vegetables sellers are all there. When you come back, find a place to wait for me.”
“Yes, Miss.” Granny Liu got out of the car with her backpack.
Li Yu drove the mule cart to the shop. The shop assistant, Chen Shuisheng, welcomed her and looked at Li Yu. “Sister Xiaoyu, when did you come back? Is Mr. Zhou back?”
Li Yu smiled and said, “I arrived yesterday. Shui Sheng, how’s business in town these days?”
“Business is alright. The things made up of cattails are almost sold out. This year, we have to make more straw hats and mats. These two are easy to sell. We can make fewer bowl cushions.”
Li Yu nodded. “Alright! I didn’t think it through. Make a list of everything that sells well and hand it to Ruyi to arrange for me to drive the car into the livestock shed.”
“Alright.” Chen Shuisheng turned around and entered the shop. After Li Yu tied up the livestock, she entered the house and changed into men’s clothes. She put on a straw hat and went out. She turned left and walked towards the alley.
After walking for fifteen minutes, Li Yu saw the house Ruyi had mentioned. At a glance, she saw that the bright red courtyard door was polished. Li Yu walked under the courtyard wall and estimated that the courtyard wall was six feet tall. From the beginning to the end, she walked 50 steps before finishing the house. Li Yu walked around and saw that this was a house with two entrances. When she walked to the back door of the Ye family, she saw occasional servants walking inside.
Li Yu pretended to look around casually as she passed by. She turned back and walked around. She turned back to the back of the shop from another alley. She pushed open the back door and flashed into the courtyard to change into the dress she had worn. She drove the mule cart slowly out of town.
Old Madam Liu bought the pig’s lungs and liver. When she left the town, she saw the mule cart at home driving slowly in front. Old Madam Liu sped up and passed Li Yu to wait in front.
When the two of them returned home, Li Yu asked Old Madam Liu to cut up the pig’s lungs and liver and put them in a basin to cover them. She placed them in front of the stove. Old Madam Liu saw that she was puzzled and did not ask further.
Ruyi carried a sack down the mountain at noon. Just as she reached the mountain stream, He Xiaoyu stopped him. Ruyi stood there and looked at He Xiaoyu indifferently. “Miss He, what’s the matter?”
He Xiaoyu looked at Ruyi and bit her lip for a long time before asking, “Ruyi, if I don’t ask you to leave the Zhou family, will you marry me?”
Ruyi glanced at He Xiaoyu. “Xiaoyu, this isn’t about whether I’m willing or not. It’s mainly about whether your parents will agree.”
He Xiaoyu was a little happy to hear that. “If Father and Mother don’t agree, I’ll elope with you.”
Ruyi was shocked. “That won’t do. Xiaoyu, go back and think about it carefully. I won’t leave the Zhou family for the rest of my life. I’ll be a member of the Zhou family until I die. If you don’t despise me and are willing to marry me, I’ll beg your parents to agree to our marriage with you.”
He Xiaoyu was overjoyed when she heard that. She ran to Ruyi and looked at him with a smile. “Ruyi, I knew you had me in your heart. I’ve long figured things out. As long as it’s you, I’ll do anything.”
Ruyi was overjoyed when he heard Xiaoyu’s words. How could he have met such a good girl? Ruyi looked at He Xiaoyu gratefully. “Thank you, Xiaoyu. Before Young Master left, he said that if your family doesn’t object to our marriage, and we really like each other, he will personally come to propose marriage.”
He Xiaoyu nodded happily. “Alright, Ruyi, wait for me. I’ll convince my parents.” With that, He Xiaoyu turned around and ran.
As Ruyi watched her run merrily, his joy was surging like a spring tide.
Ruyi walked back happily and went to Li Yu’s house. She said to Li Yu, “Miss, I caught more than ten snakes and a few scorpions. What do you plan to do?”
“Put them away first. Don’t let them out to bite anyone. When we kill two snakes at night, wipe the snake blood on Ye Ju’s door and throw the snakes on his roof. Let’s eat melon seeds and wait for a good show!”
“Miss, what do you mean by eating melon seeds?”
When Li Yu heard that, she realized that she had forgotten that there were no melon seeds here. She could only make up a story. Li Yu smiled dryly. “The pumpkin I used to stir-fry is the best to eat when I have nothing to do.”
Ruyi couldn’t help but be curious. He couldn’t wait to see what kind of show it was. “Okay, I’ll take the snakes and insects and put them away before going to the farm.”
Li Yu nodded and watched Ruyi leave before going to the rice field. She realized that there were still children from the other village. They came to the village to pick up the rice that had fallen to the ground. Uncle Zhou carried a tray of herbal tea over and placed it on the field. He smiled at Li Yu and said, “Miss, that grain thresher was really too convenient. The work was done quickly and cleanly.”
“Tell them to be careful not to hurt their hands. Uncle Zhou, how many fields do we have left to harvest?”
Uncle Zhou calculated. “There are about 120 acres left after we finish collecting today. We’ll be done in another three or four days.”
“Alright, Jinjiu and the others are here. Don’t tire yourself out.”
“Thank you for your concern, Miss. I’m still very strong!” Uncle Zhou chuckled.
Li Yu was also glad to see him happy. “Alright, take it easy.”