Chapter 632: Chapter 634: Green Tea

Jin Qianqian knew that Li Cuicui was still somewhat protective of Gu Yuanfeng. That whole tirade was just an attempt to make her resent Gu Yuanfeng a little less.

Liu Liu stepped forward to smooth things over. "Mother, it’s getting late. Should we have the kitchen set up the tables here in the courtyard? The dining hall won’t be able to fit everyone otherwise."

Li Cuicui remarked, "I thought this courtyard was spacious enough, but it seems it still won’t do with so many people.

It’s just that if we eat out here in the courtyard, the food will get cold quickly."

It was already late autumn. While it wasn’t bone-chillingly cold, if they set up in the courtyard, the food would indeed get cold fast.

This was also why Jin Qianqian had scrapped the idea of having food catered from town. Instead, she’d had someone buy the ingredients and asked the cooks from several of the brothers’ households to prepare a meal together.

"Why don’t we eat in separate groups? We can cover the prepared dishes tightly and send some over to the courtyard next door," Xie Ruyi suggested.

Her husband was the eldest, and when they had rebuilt their courtyard, they had chosen a spot nearby, just a few steps away. Eating separately like this would be perfect, and the food wouldn’t get cold.

Li Cuicui made a swift decision. "Let’s do that. Go tell the kitchen to send a few tables’ worth of food over to your courtyard."

Jin Qianqian watched them make the arrangements in silence. ’We’re only back for a few days. Better not to get involved in their affairs.’

’After we leave, they can sort it out however they please.’

Thinking Jin Qianqian was still upset about the earlier incident, Liu Liu whispered, "Don’t you pay any mind to that woman. She’s not right in the head.

We can barely look after our own Gu Family, so why would we bother with an outsider like her?

Don’t worry. The clan already made it clear: if these children from the lower branches don’t have the talent or ability to earn your favor, they’re not allowed to get close to you.

Seventh is an official far from home with no one to help him, which is already hard enough. The Old Clan Leader declared a long time ago that anyone who dares to drag him down will be punished according to the harshest of clan laws."

Liu Liu didn’t elaborate, but Jin Qianqian knew what the clan’s harshest punishment entailed. No wonder Gu Yuanfeng had been so easily frightened off just now.

Otherwise, with her personality, she would never have given up so easily, letting a few old women just push her away.

She glanced up at Li Cuicui, who was now speaking in a low voice to Li Chuncao and her sister. Seeing the two girls’ red-rimmed eyes, she sighed.

"Those two girls have had it rough," Liu Liu said. "With a paternal clan like that, plus such an unreliable mother, they can’t even speak up when they’re wronged."

Jin Qianqian frowned. "But living with their mother, would they still be treated unfairly?"

Liu Liu replied, "They’re not Gu Family, after all. There’s bound to be some gossip in the village.

But even though those two are pitiful, I just can’t bring myself to like them.

Sometimes I’ll just offer a little advice, and their eyes will well up as if they’ve suffered some terrible injustice.

Every time, it gives me the false impression that I’ve done something terrible. Over time, I’ve stopped wanting to get close to them, just to save myself the frustration."

As Liu Liu spoke, she seemed to recall something unpleasant and didn’t forget to add a warning. "If you ever need to tell them something, it’s best not to do it alone or in private.

You might mean well, but you don’t want other people to get the wrong idea."

The term "green tea" surfaced in Jin Qianqian’s mind, and she drew in a sharp breath.

’If they keep going down this path, won’t they just end up causing trouble for everyone else?’

’Looks like I really do need to have someone keep an eye on them. One ’green tea’ wouldn’t be enough to intimidate me, but two of them? That’s a weapon of mass destruction.’

Using the motion of lifting her cup as a cover, Jin Qianqian glanced at the He Chuncao sisters out of the corner of her eye. But at that moment, both of them had their heads bowed, wiping away tears, so she couldn’t see their true expressions.

"Are you the only one who’s had this happen, Fourth Sister-in-law?"

Liu Liu scoffed. "How could that be? At first, I just thought the two girls were thin-skinned and quick to cry.

But then I saw them on a few occasions, and they put on a completely different face for the other villagers who aren’t family.

I’m too much of a rustic to describe it precisely, but they gave off this air of superiority.

I really don’t know where they get that confidence from. Take my own girl—she used to have a bad temper and kept to herself, but after all these years of me teaching her, she at least knows how to behave herself in public."

Following her words, Jin Qianqian looked at Gu Lehua standing behind her. Unexpectedly, Gu Lehua gave her a bright, cheerful smile, a far cry from the arrogant girl she remembered.

’Looks like Fourth Sister-in-law really put in a lot of effort over the years,’ Jin Qianqian thought. ’The girl is much more pleasant now than she was as a child.’

Jin Qianqian smiled back at her and offered a compliment, "She’s grown up and sensible now."

Liu Liu broke into a wide grin. "Hurry up and thank your Seventh Aunt! With her praise, let’s see who dares call you a country girl in the future."

Jin Qianqian asked, "What? Have people been making snide remarks?"

"We don’t pay them any mind. They’re just jealous people. Arguing with them would be beneath us.

I’ve learned to let things go now. As long as your Fourth Brother doesn’t get any wandering eyes, I’ll just focus on raising my two children. Once they have families of their own, this burden will finally be off my shoulders.

When that time comes, I’m going to throw caution to the wind and travel all over with your Fourth Brother. I’ll learn to enjoy life just like he does."

Jin Qianqian hadn’t expected Liu Liu to change so much. ’Money really does make people bold,’ she thought. The confidence in her voice was unmistakable.

But on second thought, it made sense. Among the brothers, Gu Yuanshui was the cleverest next to Ancient Wen Heng. She’d heard his businesses were the most successful of all the brothers’, and he now had the most assets.

Still, speaking of travel, Jin Qianqian felt compelled to offer a piece of honest advice. "Don’t think traveling is all comfortable. Most of your time is spent on the road, and sometimes, if you don’t reach an inn by nightfall, sleeping in the wilderness is quite common.

It’s nothing like being at home. You’re on edge all night and can’t sleep soundly. Are you sure you can handle that kind of hardship, Fourth Sister-in-law?"

But Liu Liu just laughed, unconcerned. "If that’s all it is, then I really don’t think it’s much of a hardship.

Back when we were fleeing the famine, we slept in the open and braved the elements, didn’t we? We couldn’t even get enough to eat and still had to carry so many things.

Now that we have the means—a carriage to travel in, an escort agency for protection—I’m more than willing to go see different places."

Jin Qianqian hadn’t realized Liu Liu was a hidden travel enthusiast. ’If this were modern times,’ she mused, ’and she had the resources, she’d probably have traveled the whole world by now.’

"Fourth Sister-in-law has a point. We only live once, and it’s all for the sake of two simple words: living freely.

If one has the means, they should certainly go out and explore.

But you can forget about it for the next few years. Le Kai and Le Hua aren’t of marriageable age yet, and there’s still a lot you have to handle for them."

Liu Liu said, "I’m quite open-minded about it now. Actually, I think being like Mother is quite good. After my son gets married, I plan to have them move out too. It’ll save me from having them underfoot all the time and worrying needlessly."

Jin Qianqian just smiled and didn’t reply. ’How could a parent ever truly not care?’ she thought. ’They just say it to sound detached.’

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