Liu Yun was puzzled. There was no grudge between them. This was such good news, why did they leave without saying goodbye?
She shook his head helplessly and saw that everyone was saying their goodbyes.
The few people who had followed Lin Jinxiao to Anlin Village were there to carry him home and also to express their gratitude. They had not even told their families the good news.
After everyone left, the courtyard grew silent again. Only Chu Nanzhi's family, Liu Yun and her daughter were left.
Chu Nanzhi handed the thirty taels of silver to Liu Yun. She did not have any memories about whether she still owed the Qi family money, so she reiterated,
"Mother, if you encounter any difficulties in the future, just ask me for help. Don't go to the Qi family again. When you get back, calculate the money you've owed them over the years. We'll earn it back."
When Liu Yun heard this, her emotions were in turmoil.
If not for her three daughters, she would not have had to swallow her pride and beg the Qi family.
She used to be a proud person.
She glanced at Lin Jinxiao and the four children, then stuffed the money back into Chu Nanzhi's hands.
"We don't owe the Qi family any money. She helped Shuyang pay off his gambling debt, but she also took our family's land as payment. No matter how difficult my situation is, I can deal with it. It's just that your husband is not mobile now, and your expenses will be high. The four children also have to eat their fill. Keep the money."
When the four children heard this, their hearts ached for their grandmother.
The second oldest, Lin Ruixi, went over and tugged at Liu Yun's sleeve. "Grandma, Grandma, Father said that we can't take your silver anymore. This silver has to be set aside to treat Old Master's illness."
Liu Yun caressed Lin Ruixi's head and replied lovingly, "Old Master is better already. He doesn't need the money."
At this moment, the youngest child, Lin Ruijia, walked out of the house with a bundle in her hand. "Granny, look, we still have silver at home. We don't need your silver."
Chu Nanzhi could not help feeling envious when she saw how close these children were to Liu Yun.
Indeed, this woman had suffered for many years, but she had helped several families. Of course she was loved.
Such a good mother should be cherished.
As a police officer in her previous life, she was used to seeing life and death. She also knew that she did not know when danger would come.
Hence, she did not to make promises to others casually. However, at the moment, she did not want Liu Yun to have such a hard life. She decided that she would bear the burden of supporting this family.
She handed the silver to Chu Nanzhu. "Take the silver back for Father's treatment. The remainder is for your children. Don't let your husband gamble it away again."
She remembered that Chu Nanzhu had given birth to a boy two years ago. Of course such a young baby would need some money.
However, Chu Nanzhu did not dare to take it. She looked at Liu Yun silently.
Liu Yun thought about it and did not force her. She gestured for her to accept it.
Then, she took the two little girls' hands and said with a smile, "Ah Zhu, your eldest sister's family has escaped the threat of imprisonment. Take some money to the village and buy a chicken and some food. We'll stay for lunch before going back."
Then, she instructed Chu Nanzhi to help Lin Jinxiao into the house to rest.
Chu Nanzhi looked at the dark expression on his face. She did not want to get close to him at all.
Ever since he came back, everyone had been grateful to her, except for him.
She guessed that he thought the Host and Priest Ximen were in cahoots to harm him, so he was holding a grudge.
If he really thought so, the divide between the two of them would become deeper and deeper.
Liu Yun stood between them. She was in a difficult position. After thinking for a moment, she said to Lin Jinxiao,
"Look, Da Zhi has changed a lot after this crisis. No matter what, you should be able to tell that she wants to have a good life with you. Why don't you forget the past and live a harmonious life as a family?"
As she spoke, she looked at the children beside her and said, "The children are already so old. How can they be separated from you?"
Hearing this, the eldest child, Lin Ruiwen, immediately shook his head. "Grandma, it's fine as long as we have Father."
The third eldest, Lin Ruichong, also glared at Chu Nanzhi. "Grandma, I heard an uncle say that the person who framed Father was that bad priest. He's…"
"San Bao."
Lin Jinxiao roared at his third child to stop him. Then, he lowered his voice and said, "Go with Older Brother to get Father's walking stick."
The two brothers looked at each other resentfully and entered the inner room dejectedly.
Not long after, they came out with a walking stick.
Lin Jinxiao leaned on his walking stick and led the four children into the house.
Liu Yun was actually a little afraid of this son-in-law, but for the sake of her daughter's happiness, she had no choice but to brazen it out and act as a peacemaker.
Chu Nanzhi knew what her mother was thinking. She did not really want to stay for lunch, but she wanted to resolve the couple's conflict.
However, she did not want to continue staying with this family.
When everything was settled, she would divorce Lin Jinxiao sooner or later.
She restrained Liu Yun to stop her plan. "Mother, Father is still sick and Third Sister's child needs someone to take care of him. I think you and Third Sister should go back."
"Your father is much better. Surely the two men at home can take care of a child for a short while."
After a pause, Liu Yun started complaining unhappily.
"You brat, I brought rice and meat to your house for a meal, but now you're hinting that I should go away. To think that I thought you were so sensible just now and have learnt to be filial to your mother. I didn't expect you to be so heartless. Really, once a daughter gets married, she's no longer part of the family."
"Of course not."
Chu Nanzhi smiled wryly. "If you want to eat, I'll go home in a few days and cook for you personally."
"Even dogs won't eat your cooking. Don't make things difficult for me."
Liu Yun curled her lips in disdain.
Chu Nanzhi's expression became even more wry.
She had always been very confident of her culinary skills.
However, the Host was a lazy person. She had no choice but to accept this fact. She bit her lips and said to Liu Yun, "Then I can practice, right?"
"That's better."
Liu Yun finally smiled happily.
After a while, her expression darkened again. Her eyes were fixed on Chu Nanzhi as she asked softly, "Da Zhi, did you really collude with that Taoist priest to frame your husband?"
"Mother, what are you talking about? If I wanted to frame him, why would I go to the county office to plead his innocence? Isn't that contradictory?"
Liu Yun pursed her lips and nodded. "That's true, but you should explain it to him."
"What's there to say? The logic can't be simpler. If he wants to understand, he will naturally understand. If he doesn't, it's no use trying to persuade him."
Chu Nanzhi explained.
That was the logical, but Liu Yun was still afraid that Lin Jinxiao would become suspicious.
Scholars were always meticulous and were over-thinkers.
By now, Chu Nanzhu had returned with the chicken and food.
The three of them went to the kitchen. As Liu Yun rummaged through the cabinets and cleaned up the house, she complained,
"Look at how you're living. There's nothing left at home. Fortunately, Ah Zhu bought rice. Otherwise, this there would be nothing to cook."
Then, she instructed Chu Nanzhu, "Ah Zhu, go buy some rice later."
Chu Nanzhi really did not want to defend herself anymore. She only said, "I thought that I wouldn't be able to survive today, so why should I care about that? Mother, don't bother Third Sister anymore. I'll go and buy some myself tomorrow."
Chu Nanzhu did not mind. Instead, she smiled happily and said, "It's fine. Elder Sister, just listen to Mother."
Chu Nanzhi did not argue. There was nothing outstanding about this branch of the Chu family, but their family was quite harmonious.
She liked that very much.
Seeing that the two of them were busy killing the chicken and washing rice, she looked at the ingredients Chu Nanzhu had bought and thought she would make a dish herself.
In this era, food was mainly boiled or steamed. It was better to cook a stir-fried dish that only she liked.
There was pork and green pepper on the chopping board. Chu Nanzhi thought for a while and suddenly had an idea.
She would make farm-style stir-fried pork.