Chapter 1488: Insistent on Giving Money, Lu Sanzhu

Grandma Lu frowned at Lu Sanzhu's comment. She couldn't believe that he would say something like that. What did he mean by saying she couldn't handle it?

She gave him a stern look and said, "Enough, just go away."

Gradually, everyone left the room. However, Grandma Lu couldn't help but smile when she saw them leaving. Lu Sanzhu was right; having a room filled with filial children and virtuous grandchildren was a blessing.

Even Lu Sanzhu and his wife, who were the least obedient, showed genuine concern in their eyes.

Shu Yu remained by the bedside until everyone had left. She then asked, "Grandma, are you feeling better now?"

"I was never really sick." Though she felt a bit weak, the old lady appreciated Zhao Xi's medical skills. He had taken good care of her.

Shu Yu smiled and said, "Alright, you're doing fine."

She then poured a glass of water for Grandma Lu and waited for her to finish drinking before continuing, "Grandma, I want to talk to you about something."

"What is it?"

"I'm asking for help to find Grand Aunt."

Grandma Lu turned her head suddenly, her eyes widening in disbelief. Her face showed a mix of emotions, "What... What are you saying?"

Shu Yu smiled gently, "I heard from my mother that you've been thinking about her. You once said that not reconciling with Grandma Liu was a regret of yours. We still have plenty of time and energy now, so let's not leave any regrets behind."

Grandma Lu tightly held Shu Yu's hand, feeling a bit shaky. She took a deep breath and raised her head, her eyes shining brightly. "Alright, let's find her!"

Whether she was alive or not, there had to be an answer.

Shu Yu felt relieved, "Alright, Grandma, please rest well and take care of yourself."

"Okay."

After chatting with Grandma Lu for a while, Shu Yu left the room. Unexpectedly, she saw Lu Sanzhu giving a piece of silver to Lu Erbai and saying, "Second brother, this is all I have. I still owe money to Ah Yu, and I can't afford more. This two taels of silver are half a month's worth of my salary."

Lu Erbai was speechless and almost rolled his eyes. "You don't need to give any money. I'll take care of it myself."

"That's not possible." Lu Sanzhu snorted, "This is about my own mother. As her son, how can I not contribute? I should at least give something. This two taels of silver is all I have."

Lu Erbai really wanted to say, "If you're not willing, then forget it."

Shu Yu was puzzled and asked her sister, "What's going on?"

Shu You chuckled, "Uncle heard that Dad had hired a guard from the escort agency to inquire about Grand Aunt's whereabouts. So, he took out all the money he had and said that he might not be able to help much, but he could at least contribute some silver. However, he's hesitating a bit."

But Shu You then added, "But he did give it in the end. If it were in the past, when Grandma was struggling at our home, Uncle wouldn't have given her a bite to eat. Now he's willing to give two taels of silver, it seems that Grandma's illness really frightened him."

When the news of Grandma Lu's illness reached him, Lu Sanzhu immediately took a leave from work and rushed over.

Shu Yu witnessed how relieved he looked when he heard that Grandma Lu was fine.

 Chapter 1486: Separated for Many Years

The village was desolate; many people left and never returned, but most of them eventually came back to their hometown.

Grandma Lu and Her Husband started building a new house and farming again.

Later, Grandpa Lu visited Xiao Fang's hometown, where they had started rebuilding as well. However, Xiao Fang and her husband never returned, and they remained missing.

Most people believed that they might have perished, but close relatives always held onto a glimmer of hope.

This was true for Grandma Lu and her parents.

Unfortunately, Grandma Lu's parents couldn't bear the pain for long. They had suffered during the escape, and losing their only son weighed heavily on their hearts. They passed away in the third year after Lu Erbai's birth.

After bidding farewell to her brother and parents, Grandma Lu felt sorrowful for a while. Besides her two sons, Xiao Fang, who was missing, was the only relative with whom she had a blood relationship.

Grandma Lu and Xiao Fang were close in age, and their sisterly bond was deep. She couldn't help but miss her.

That was why there were few relatives visiting the Lu family during the New Year. Many people had lost their lives during that flood, and the subsequent epidemic affected the nearby town, leading to more deaths.

For most people in Dong'an Prefecture, that disaster left a deep impression.

Ruan Shi said, "Mother rarely mentioned your aunt, maybe because it pained her to do so. But on rainy days, she sometimes couldn't help but bring up the big flood from the past and talk about your aunt. She always had her in mind, especially now that Aunt Liu has gone. Mother is feeling even more unsettled."

"When all the people from her youth have left one by one—parents, husband, friends, brothers—and now your grandmother, despite having younger generations around her, her heart is still empty, and she feels lonely."

Ruan Shi words left everyone silent.

Among them, Ruan Shi understood the old lady the most.

Although Grandma Lu didn't like Ruan Shi, she still liked talking to her whenever she had something on her mind.

Among the three daughters-in-law, Li Shi would respond superficially but was not interested in hearing about the past. As for Liang Shi, she didn't have the patience to listen to her stories. Only Ruan Shi was a quiet and suitable listener.

Plus, due to her own family reasons, Ruan Shi also admired the close relationship between Grandma Lu's family members and their deep sibling bond.

"Then let's try to find her," Shu Yu suddenly spoke up, interrupting everyone's contemplation.

"Find her?" Everyone turned to look at her in surprise.

Zhao Xi whispered, "How can we find her? I don't mean to be ominous, but perhaps she is no longer alive. If not, why haven't we heard any news after all these years? Your grandma's address hasn't changed, and they should know it."

Unless the person is no longer alive, how could there be no news at all?

Shu Yu understood that, but...

"Just inquire about it. If we can find any information, that's great. If not, at least we tried, and we won't have any regrets. Doing nothing will leave a knot in our hearts," Shu Yu said firmly.

 Chapter 1485: Thinking of Your Aunt

Shu Yu furrowed her brows, "We talked about Grandma Liu yesterday. My grandma said her biggest regret was not reconciling with her. Later, when I asked if she had any other regrets, she said no, but..."

She paused and spoke softly, "I could tell from her expression that there might be more."

Shu Yu looked at Lu Erbai and Ruan Shi, "Dad, Mom, do you know anything about it?"

Having just returned not long ago, Shu Yu was still unaware of many things that happened in the past.

Lu Erbai rubbed his head at the question. Regrets? He really didn't know. Like Shu Yu, he was often away from home. Over the years, he had been either trying to find Shu Yu or looking for clues about her whereabouts. Even when he returned home, he tried to do as much work as possible, such as carpentry or farming, and was always tired. At night, he would just sleep, and he had very few opportunities to talk with the old lady.

So as her son, he didn't know what was on Grandma Lu's mind.

Lu Erbai subconsciously looked at Ruan Shi, but she was staring at the wet ground outside the door, soaked from last night's rain.

After some thought, Ruan Shi looked up at Shu Yu, "When your grandma was talking to you yesterday, was it raining?"

Shu Yu nodded, "Yes, it was raining when I came to see her, and she was looking out the window with a heavy heart."

Ruan Shi sighed, "Then it's probably true. She was probably thinking about your aunt."

"Aunt?" Not only Shu Yu but also Shu You and Shu Ning were puzzled.

Ruan Shi glanced around the room and nodded, saying, "Back then, we had many days of rain here, and it caused a flood. Your grandma and your aunt's family got separated and haven't seen each other since."

Grandma Lu's maiden name was Fang, and her family was actually in the neighboring town, not too far away.

She married into the Lu family in Shishi Village when she was fifteen years old and gave birth to Lu Dasong the following year.

Her younger sister, Xiao Fang, was two years younger than her and got married in the neighboring county.

However, just half a year after Xiao Fang got married, heavy rain continued to pour in the entire Dong'an Prefecture, and the neighboring county, with slightly lower terrain, was the first to suffer. Xiao Fang's in-laws' house was completely washed away by the flood.

Her mother-in-law couldn't escape in time and was crushed to death by the collapsed house.

Xiao Fang went back to her mother's home with her husband and father-in-law for shelter. At the same time, Grandma Lu also went back to her mother's home with her husband and one-year-old son, Lu Dasong.

The town was better than the village, but it didn't take long for them to face difficulties again as the rain kept pouring.

Eventually, the flood became more severe, and they could only flee north.

However, it was not safe to travel, especially with the continuous rain, making the situation more perilous.

At this time, Xiao Fang's twelve year old brother developed a high fever. They couldn't find a doctor on the road, so they could only feed him some herbs, but in the end, he couldn't survive.

Shortly after, Xiao Fang's father-in-law also lost his life on the way.

Everyone was full of grief, but they had to keep going.

Eventually, they encountered a group of refugees who attacked them and separated Xiao Fang and her husband from the rest, and they lost track of them since then.

In the vast sea of people, Xiao Fang's family was all in distress, and they couldn't possibly find them.

They returned to their hometown only after the rain finally stopped.

Although the house had changed beyond recognition, at least they were still alive.

Shishi Village was rebuilt, and father Lu's mother chose to leave with Lu's eldest brother when they fled, but the elder brother's whole family was gone, including their mother.

 Chapter 1484: Zhao Xi's Diagnosis

Shu Yu was alarmed, and the whole family became tense.

By the time Shu Yu arrived in the courtyard where Grandma Lu was staying, Lu Erbai, Ruan Shi, and others were already there.

Zhao Xi was the first person they called, and he was currently preparing some medicine.

Shu Yu hurriedly approached him and asked, "How is she? Is it serious?"

Zhao Xi appeared relatively relaxed, "It's nothing serious, just a slight fever. She'll be fine after taking a couple of doses of medicine."

"A fever?" Shu Yu furrowed her brows. Could it be that she caught a cold last night? It didn't seem likely. When she came over, Grandma Lu was sitting in the room, dressed warmly, and the window was only slightly open, so it was quite warm inside.

Grandma Lu was awake now, propped up against a pillow on the bed, looking weak but conscious.

She glanced around and said helplessly, "I told you there's nothing wrong, just a little discomfort. Who hasn't been sick before? Go on, go back to your own business, and don't crowd around here."

How could the Lu family not be worried? Grandma Lu had always been in good health.

Even during the difficult times in the past, in exile, or during long journeys, she had never fallen ill.

Since Shu Yu returned two years ago, it was the first time she had seen Grandma Lu lying weakly in bed like this, looking disdainful as she drank the medicine brought to her.

Shu Yu had intended to feed her spoon by spoon, but Grandma Lu was too impatient and drank it all in one go.

With so many people in the room, the air was not circulating properly. Zhao Xi asked everyone to leave so that Grandma Lu could rest well.

Everyone else went to the outer room, leaving only Shu Yu watching the old lady sleep before coming out.

She couldn't help but ask again worriedly, "Grandma, are you really okay?"

"I'm fine," Zhao Xi said, "She has some internal heat, and once it comes out, she'll be fine."

"Internal heat? How did that happen?" Lu Erbai asked anxiously.

Zhao Xi thought for a moment and could only speculate, "Grandma hasn't been sick for a long time, right? Earlier, the family's conditions were poor, and she had many responsibilities, so she forced herself not to fall. After you came back, she was happy, and her mood had an impact on her health, making her look rosy."

"But when you were exiled, she wouldn't allow herself to get sick and burden others. Later, when the Lu family's life stabilized, and she had people taking care of her, she probably thought that falling ill under these circumstances would be too dramatic."

"Then yesterday, when she attended the funeral of Grandma Liu, all the negative emotions she had accumulated suddenly erupted. Feeling emotionally low and repressed, she fell ill."

According to Zhao Xi, it was good that the internal heat had come out; otherwise, if it had been suppressed for too long, it could lead to serious and life-threatening conditions.

Zhao Xi had encountered similar cases with Grandma Lu's condition before.

Lu Erbai was stunned upon hearing this, and Ruan Shi's voice turned low, "Come to think of it, for all these years, Mother has been like the backbone of the family, holding it together."

Lu Erbai felt ashamed and asked hesitantly, "Will she really be fine after it comes out?"

"Yes, in fact, when Grandma came back yesterday, she remained silent, which made me worried," Zhao Xi explained. "I chatted with Ah You about it and asked her to talk to Grandma more today, at least to get her to speak and release her emotions."

Shu Yu added, "I talked with Grandma for a long time last night."

Zhao Xi turned back in surprise, "Really? No wonder. What did you talk about?"

 Chapter 1483: Falling ill

Grandma Lu seemed unaware of her own similar personality traits as she reminisced about the past with a somewhat childish smile.

"We were both young and hot-headed back then, and in the heat of an argument, we didn't remember each other's kindness. Besides, we had our own families to take care of, so we gradually saw each other less."

"Later on, she was doing well while our family struggled in poverty. She kept advising us not to look for you. I didn't want to listen to her and even drove her away with a broom. After that, whenever we met, it was with a glaring hostility."

Shu Yu chuckled, "But my mother told me that Grandma Liu sent a gift after I returned."

Grandma Lu snorted, "Yes, it was because of that gift that I was willing to talk to her again." Then her voice lowered, "But it was only a few words. After we moved to the county, I rarely saw her. We both have strong personalities, and even though we are doing well now and have nothing to worry about, we both refuse to back down."

Grandma Lu's voice softened even more as she murmured, "We are already at this age, and there are not many good years left. Yet, we still hold grudges."

Shu Yu felt a pang of worry and comforted her, "Grandma, don't say that. You still have a long life ahead of you. Grandma Liu's illness has nothing to do with her age."

Grandma Lu wasn't really that old; she was only fifty-four years old, which would be considered young in modern times. However, in this era, fifty-four was already considered advanced age.

Shu Yu didn't expect Grandma Lu to have such thoughts.

"Grandma, you will live to a hundred, so why say there are not many years left? You have only lived half of your life, and there's still plenty of time to do whatever you want and resolve any regrets."

Grandma Lu paused for a moment, "I don't have many regrets anymore. The biggest regret I had was not being able to find you. Now that you're back, your father's leg is healed, your sister is married and about to give birth, and your younger siblings will have their own achievements in the future. Everyone's lives are getting better, and they all have their plans. I feel content."

Shu Yu pursed her lips. She noticed the brief hesitation from Grandma Lu earlier. It seemed that Grandma Lu did have some regrets, but she didn't want to talk about it.

Shu Yu didn't want to pry into this sensitive matter further, so as not to spoil the good mood that Grandma Lu had just regained.

She smiled, "Well, your aspirations are too low. You have to live long enough to see me get married, Ah Rui succeed in the imperial examination, and Ah Ning achieve academic success."

Grandma Lu laughed along with her but couldn't help but join in the anticipation.

Yes, there were still so many things left to accomplish.

Seeing Grandma Lu's improved mood, Shu Yu relaxed a bit and chatted with her for a while. After Grandma Lu yawned, Shu Yu helped her to bed for a rest.

Once Grandma Lu fell asleep, Shu Yu left the room with Ying Xi and returned to Yu Garden.

She had thought that everything would pass smoothly. Perhaps Grandma Lu would feel a bit down for a few days, but she would soon recover.

However, the next morning, Ying Xi nervously ran over to tell her, "The old madam has fallen ill."

  Chapter 636: Dangerous Encounter (1)

Mo Yan was astonished by such a brutal training method. Her heart ached seeing the five beasts battered and bruised. She hoped Xue Tuanzi would change the training approach, but the first to oppose was not Xue Tuanzi, but the five beasts themselves.

After Xue Tuanzi explained, Mo Yan understood that the beams shot from its eyes contained spiritual energy. Although they left deep wounds on the five beasts, the targeted areas were their major meridians and acupoints. The spiritual energy would refine these points, making the five beasts’ physiques stronger and more perfect.

Even though the five beasts couldn’t advance to spirit beasts due to the constraints of heaven and earth rules and couldn’t use spiritual energy like Xue Tuanzi, their physical fitness and agility would not be inferior to spirit beasts and might even surpass them in some aspects.

This refining method was too brutal and caused great suffering to the five beasts. If they weren’t frequently drinking spiritual spring water and had sturdier flesh and bones compared to ordinary ferocious beasts, they wouldn’t be able to endure Xue Tuanzi’s strikes.

The pursuit of great power is the nature of ferocious beasts, and the five beasts were no exception. They desired strength both to protect Mo Yan and to fulfill their own potential. Even if they were covered in wounds and couldn’t stand, they would never retreat.

Seeing the determination in the weakened five beasts’ eyes, Mo Yan respected their choice, patted their heads one by one, and quietly exited the space.

The next day, Mo Yan approached Yang Bao to discuss her plan for growing greenhouse vegetables. She hoped Yang Bao would spread the word to every household. If any villagers were interested, they could sign up with him by the end of the month, and she would make the arrangements.

Yang Bao understood that Mo Yan’s intentions were for the good of the village, but he wasn’t optimistic about greenhouse vegetables. He earnestly advised her to be cautious. After all, those who tried growing greenhouse vegetables last year ended up losing a lot of money and were still facing famine. Those villagers who didn’t follow the trend were still relieved, so who would dare to entertain the idea now?

Even if the Mo family was wealthy enough to absorb the losses, other villagers couldn’t withstand any setbacks. Even as the village head, he couldn’t force the villagers to participate. Moreover, if there were snow disasters or cold waves, and villagers suffered losses, not only would he face criticism, but the Mo family might also be blamed and be expected to compensate the villagers.

Mo Yan had already prepared herself for rejection before she came. Yang Bao’s advice, considering her family’s interests, didn’t make her think he was ungrateful. She smiled and said, “Whether to participate is entirely up to the villagers. If they don’t want to, I can’t force them. Although there are risks, the benefits are also substantial. My family earned this house from greenhouse vegetables two years ago. Who can guarantee there won’t be a second family to achieve the same?”

Yang Bao, upon hearing this, envisioned the spacious and elegant Mo family estate and couldn’t hide his envy. If not for the Mo family’s example, who would have thought that growing greenhouse vegetables could be so profitable? There wouldn’t have been so many people losing money following the trend.

What the girl said made sense. There were risks, but the benefits were also visible. Perhaps some daring villagers would be willing to join the Mo family. Furthermore, this girl had divine protection. She had never suffered a loss in her ventures, had she?

Thinking this, Yang Bao gritted his teeth and agreed, “Yan girl, I’ll help you spread the word. I’m willing to take this gamble and be the first to sign up. Whatever needs to be done, I’ll follow your lead!”

Mo Yan’s smile grew even brighter, “Uncle Yang, rest assured. I can’t guarantee how much money you’ll make, but I can promise you won’t lose money! Feel free to share this with the other villagers too.”

  Chapter 635: Growing Vegetables and Cultivating Helpers (5)

Mo Yan, smiling, pinched the fluffy ears of Mao Tuan and conceded, “Alright, alright, you’re the ‘warm man,’ not a fierce ‘mother tiger’! But if you dare to not bathe and crawl into my bed dirty again, I’ll find a fierce mother tiger to be your wife.” By the end, her words had turned into a fierce threat.

Mao Tuan was only one year old, equivalent to a child who hadn’t fully grown up yet. Upon hearing this, he quickly covered his face with his paws, his shyness making him look incredibly adorable!

Everyone laughed heartily at the sight. Those who dared to touch Mao Tuan’s large, fluffy head were met with his shy refusal to lift his head, no longer caring about the hands on his head.

It was the first time Mo Yan had seen Mao Tuan shy. After a moment of stunned silence, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter, realizing she had found another way to play with Mao Tuan!

Unaware of his owner’s intentions, Mao Tuan, who had been shyly hiding his face, would later find himself with a tiger wife and, every time he was bullied, he would harbor endless resentment towards Mo Yan, believing it was her “curse” that made him end up with such a troublesome “wife.”

That night, Mo Yan brought her animal companions into the space and even brought along the stubborn red python who refused to return to the mountain. With Xue Tuanzi around, the red python dared not act up.

Indeed, the five beasts that usually frolicked in the vast space saw Xue Tuanzi being held in Mo Yan’s arms and immediately restrained themselves, sensing that Xue Tuanzi was no ordinary being. They realized that angering Xue Tuanzi might even lead to their destruction.

Mo Yan was very pleased with Xue Tuanzi’s reaction, as every time she let the five beasts into the space, the orchard and brewed fruit wine would suffer significant damage, making her want to lash out at the beasts.

Seeing Xue Tuanzi’s disdainful look as it sized up the five beasts from head to toe, Mo Yan couldn’t help but defend them, “They’re very capable and have helped me a lot. You should get along with them and not bully them!”

Xue Tuanzi replied disdainfully, “They aren’t even level-one spirit beasts; what’s so impressive about them? Hmph, I wouldn’t bother bullying them; it would lower my standards!”

Mo Yan’s eye twitched. Looking at the five beasts who dared not speak up, she suddenly felt that leaving them alone in the space might make things even more chaotic.

However, as a good owner, she had the obligation to teach Xue Tuanzi to get along well with her animal companions, “Although I don’t know what level-one spirit beasts are, you should understand that this isn’t the cultivation world. The rules of heaven and earth don’t allow spirit beasts to appear. Here, they are already powerful among beasts. You can’t apply the standards of the cultivation world to them; it’s unfair.”

Upon hearing this, Xue Tuanzi glanced at the five beasts and reluctantly said, “Hmph, don’t worry, I won’t do anything to them! But since you need their protection outside, they are too weak. I need to train them well. For now, let them stay in the space!”

Mo Yan, skeptical of Xue Tuanzi’s serious demeanor, couldn’t read much from its “face.” Seeing that the five beasts seemed to have put aside their grievances and were eager, she agreed.

The five beasts were left in the space. In the middle of the night, Mo Yan suddenly woke up feeling uneasy, so she went back into the space. To her horror, she saw the five beasts covered in injuries, lying on the ground, barely moving.

Xue Tuanzi hovered in the air, shooting dazzling beams of light from its round eyes directly at the five beasts, cruelly leaving deep, bloody wounds on them. 

  Chapter 634: Growing Vegetables and Cultivating Helpers (4)

Tang Xin’s idea of growing and selling vegetables was quite good. She could use the spiritual spring water to help the entire village grow greenhouse vegetables, which would lift them out of poverty. This would not only generate merit but also reduce the envy and trouble directed at her family. 

The more Mo Yan considered it, the more feasible it seemed. She was eager to discuss it with the village chief but decided to wait until morning due to the darkness outside and instead discussed it with Mo Qingze.

Mo Qingze usually supported his daughter's ideas, but given that this involved over a thousand villagers, he had to voice his concerns: “Last year, families that grew greenhouse vegetables ended up losing a lot of money and are still facing famine. If you urge everyone to start growing greenhouse vegetables now, there might not be many willing to take on such a risk.”

Mo Yan was not worried about this issue. She smiled slightly and said, “We earned this house from growing greenhouse vegetables in just one year. There will definitely be bold people willing to try it with us. As long as those who grow vegetables this year see success, they will be more willing to plant them next year. Why would we worry about the rest not growing?”

Mo Yan’s confidence seemed to indicate that she was fully prepared to grow greenhouse vegetables. Mo Qingze merely smiled and said, “If that’s the case, I’ll go see the village chief tomorrow. You can handle the arrangements based on how many families are willing to join in.”

Mo Yan agreed and turned to the excited Tang Xin, saying, “Once we confirm which families will grow greenhouse vegetables, I’ll plan and arrange things. By this time next year, you’ll be in charge of overseeing the arrangement of the vegetables. What do you think?”

Large-scale greenhouse vegetable cultivation required understanding the market and planning the planting area wisely. Otherwise, if supply exceeded demand, not only would they fail to make money, but the vegetables could rot in the fields. Mo Yan had seen such waste happen more than once in her previous life and did not want to repeat it.

Tang Xin looked at Mo Yan in disbelief, not understanding at first. After a while, she stammered, “I-I’m afraid I might not do it well!”

Mo Yan encouraged her, “This task isn’t difficult. I’ll work with you this year, and if you don’t understand something, just ask me. You’ll definitely learn.”

Once the winery was completed, there would be more and more tasks at home. If she handled everything herself, she would be exhausted. Since Tang Xin was so interested in growing and selling vegetables and had already signed a contract, it was perfect to entrust this task to her.

Tang Xin was so excited that she didn’t know where to put her hands. Li Yan nudged her with her elbow and reminded, “Quick, respond! Since Sister Yan is so trusting in you, what are you hesitating about?”

Tang Xin snapped to attention and gratefully said to Mo Yan, “Sister Yan, you can rest assured. I will definitely learn well. If I don’t learn properly, you can hit or scold me. Just… just…”

After stammering for a long time, Tang Xin couldn’t quite articulate what she wanted, and her face turned red.

Mo Yan understood what she meant and couldn’t help but laugh, saying, “As long as you’re willing to learn, I’ll teach you as many times as needed. I don’t want to be the fierce ‘mother tiger’!”

Hearing the term “mother tiger,” the fluffy ball of fur eating vegetables looked unhappy and ran over to nudge Mo Yan’s leg, unwilling to let go.

It was a tiger, but it was very gentle and not fierce at all. Not only could it protect Mo Yan, but it also warmed her bed in winter. It was Mo Yan’s “warm man”!

Everyone, just coming out of Mo Yan’s humorous analogy, couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of the fluffy ball’s insistence. Even Tang Xin, who had been moved to tears, couldn’t help but smile.

  Chapter 633: Growing Vegetables and Cultivating Helpers (3)

Such a heavy debt of gratitude was too much for Mo Yan to bear, making her hesitant to let the snowball take risks by bringing her back to the modern world to visit her family.

The snowball, unaware of its master’s thoughts, was overjoyed at having regained its freedom and the warmth of being held by Mo Yan. It felt incredibly happy at that moment.

---

Although Mo Yan’s thoughts were persistently occupied by her longing and guilt for her family, the space’s upgrade to level seven, expanding to ten thousand acres and gaining a new adorable creature, made her eager to share this joy with her loved ones and pets.

That evening, Mo Yan prepared a sumptuous vegetarian meal for her family and pets using the fruits and vegetables from the space. Compared to the level-four space, the fruits and vegetables from the upgraded level-seven space not only had a much better taste but also contained significantly more spiritual energy. After the meal, everyone’s faces glowed with vitality.

Mo Qingze and the others had no idea about the space’s upgrade. They thought the vegetables were just well-cared-for and Mo Yan’s cooking skills had improved.

Seeing the excellent effects of the fruits and vegetables, Mo Yan decided to send some to Hui Xianju through shopkeeper Xing for Chu Heng. Although Chu Heng’s poison had been resolved, his body needed long-term care to fully recover. Eating these spiritually rich fruits and vegetables was certainly better than consuming tonic medicines, which were somewhat toxic.

The faster Chu Heng recovered, the more secure her family would be.

Li Yan, feeling her slightly bloated belly, got up to clear the dishes and joked, “These vegetables taste better than meat. If we sold them on the street, even if we charged more than pork, I bet people would still rush to buy them.”

Tang Xin, helping with the cleanup, brightened up at the suggestion. “We have a lot of vegetables growing in the backyard and they grow quickly. If we can’t eat them all in time, we could always pick them and give them away. If we sold them on the street, we’d make quite a bit of money. Even if we run out of vegetables, we could open up another piece of land. I could manage it on my own!”

Having lived at Mo’s house for more than half a year, Tang Xin was satisfied with the food and clothing. Yet, she couldn’t help but worry in the dead of night that this life might suddenly vanish. So, she worked hard and never made any demands, fearing she might be driven away from the Mo family.

If Mo’s family decided to sell vegetables, she could be of use and help the family make money, which would make her feel more secure.

“Right now, we’re building a winery, and the house is busy all day. We don’t have the time to sell vegetables on the street.”

“Yes, the construction on the site is a priority. We don’t need to sell vegetables to make money. There’s no need to work so early and late.”

“Hehe, if we really wanted to sell vegetables, we’d plant that twenty acres of land like we did in the winter two years ago. Winter vegetables are more profitable!”

“……”

The others, unaware of Tang Xin’s true thoughts, assumed she genuinely wanted to grow and sell vegetables. They all laughed and tried to dissuade her, while Mo Yan, deep in thought, recalled what the snowball had said about needing to reach level ten to break free from the constraints of the heavenly rules.

Upgrading the space was becoming increasingly difficult, and finding another opportunity like Chu Heng’s to advance several levels was nearly impossible. Since quality alone wouldn’t suffice, quantity had to be considered.

Just accumulating merit on her own might take ten years to advance to the next level. Therefore, Mo Yan needed to find ways to do more good deeds and strive to reach level ten as soon as possible. 

 Chapter 632: Growing Vegetables and Cultivating Helpers (2)

Although the snowball possessed human-like intelligence, it couldn’t fully grasp the complexity of human emotions. Seeing Mo Yan so distressed, it spun around anxiously and awkwardly offered comfort. “Yan Yan, don’t be sad. If you miss your family from the modern timeline, once I regain my true form, I will definitely take you back to visit them.”

Mo Yan was taken aback and immediately forgot her sorrow. She clutched the snowball with hopeful eyes and asked, “You can really take me back to the modern world? You really can?”

The snowball’s eyes widened as it proudly said, “Of course! Otherwise, do you think you could have traveled through the turbulent flow of time and space and returned to this body with just your soul fragments? If it weren’t for saving you, I wouldn’t have…”

At this point, the snowball abruptly changed the topic. “Anyway, once I regain my true form, I will be able to safely guide you through the turbulent flow of time and space back to the modern world. So don’t worry!”

Mo Yan hesitated, her joy at the prospect of visiting her grandparents, parents, and siblings from the modern world tempered by a nagging suspicion. The sudden change of topic made her feel that things might not be as simple as the snowball was suggesting.

Curious, she tried to press the snowball for the part it had withheld, but the snowball stubbornly refused to reveal it.

The more the snowball withheld, the more suspicious Mo Yan became. She tried asking other questions to get it to talk.

As a spirit, the snowball wasn’t very clever with deception. Driven by its natural trust and attachment to its master, it soon spilled all the previously hidden details.

In the previous life, when Mo Yan was blown to pieces and her soul was on the brink of dispersing, the snowball had just finished upgrading the space. Realizing Mo Yan was in danger, the snowball used a secret technique to break through the constraints of the merit bead, despite having less than 30% of its spiritual power left. It carried one soul fragment of Mo Yan through the turbulent flow of time and space to this timeline and ultimately sent her soul into her current body.

The snowball was severely depleted and had to return to the space to recuperate. However, this timeline also didn’t allow for the existence of spirits, so it was re-sealed into the merit bead by the rules of heaven and earth.

With the spirit sealed, the space reverted to its “original form.” All of Mo Yan’s previous accumulations over more than ten years vanished, so when she awoke and entered the space, she found it had returned to its most primitive state.

Mo Yan was unaware of the tremendous sacrifice the snowball made to save her. Looking at the snowball’s palm with an expectant expression, she felt both touched and guilty. “Snowball, thank you. Without you, there wouldn’t be the me now. And you wouldn’t have been sealed and only just come out!”

The snowball wanted praise but felt embarrassed by Mo Yan’s sincere thanks. It wiggled uncomfortably and said, “You’re my master. It’s only natural for me to save you. You don’t need to feel guilty or thank me! Besides, even if I hadn’t saved you, I’d have had to find another master. I’d still be sealed and wouldn’t come out until the space reached the sixth level again. If the new master wasn’t reliable, I might never have had a chance to come out, even if sealed for a thousand or ten thousand years.”

It had encountered unreliable masters before and couldn’t remember how many years it had been sealed before meeting Mo Yan. Finding Mo Yan, who possessed nine lifetimes of merit, was a rare opportunity, and it wasn’t going to give up easily due to minor setbacks!

Mo Yan was unaware of the snowball’s thoughts. She hugged it tightly, her lowered eyelids hiding the tears in her eyes.

Indeed, she was the snowball’s master, but if she had died, the snowball could have easily sought out another descendant of the Mo family. Instead, it had risked everything (even though it couldn’t truly die) to preserve her soul and carry it through the turbulent flow of time and space back to her original body.  

 Chapter 1482: Grandma Lu's Regrets

Seeing Shu Yu and Ying Xi standing at the door, Hua Xian was surprised. "Second Miss?"

Shu Yu smiled at her and peeked into the room. She indeed saw Grandma Lu sitting at the table, looking out the window lost in thought. Upon hearing the noise at the door, Grandma Lu looked over.

"Grandma, you're still awake?"

Grandma Lu hesitated for a moment, then waved to them. "Come in, it's raining outside."

Shu Yu entered the room and said to Hua Xian, "Go find something to eat with Ying Xi."

Hua Xian blinked and looked behind Shu Yu. Indeed, Ying Xi had already put away the umbrella and was waving the food container in his hand.

Hua Xian smiled, turned around, gently closed the door, and left the two of them alone.

Shu Yu placed the food container on the table and opened it, serving the noodles. She said, "I was going through the account book in the study earlier, and before I knew it, it was already late. I got a bit hungry, so I went to the kitchen to cook some noodles as supper. I noticed that your courtyard was still lit up, so I came over. Eating in the dark kitchen wouldn't be enjoyable. Grandma, would you like to join me?"

Grandma Lu's heart felt warm; how could she not see through Shu Yu's excuse? Shu Yu had purposely cooked for her because she ate very little at night. Otherwise, why would there be so much food?

Grandma Lu pulled Shu Yu to sit down. "Sure, I'll join you."

Shu Yu immediately pushed a bowl of noodles in front of her. "It's been a while since I cooked myself. Come on, try and see if my cooking skills have declined?"

Grandma Lu took a bite. "Mmm, it's delicious."

"Then have some more."

The two sat face to face, quietly and warmly finishing their bowls of noodles.

Late at night, Shu Yu was afraid that Grandma Lu might have trouble digesting the food, so she supported her as they walked around the room.

Grandma Lu held her hand and consoled her, "You don't need to accompany me. It's so late, go rest."

"No rush."

Grandma Lu sighed, "I know you are worried about me, but I'm fine."

Shu Yu blinked at her.

Grandma Lu chuckled, "Really, I'm fine. It's just that my heart feels a bit uneasy. But after sending away my parents, my brother, and your grandfather, experiencing so many things, I've grown accustomed to it. It's just that I have some regrets."

Shu Yu felt relieved; it was a good sign that Grandma Lu was willing to talk about it.

Before this, she had been unresponsive and silent since she returned. Even though she went to her room to rest, she ate very little and hadn't gone to bed yet. This worried Shu Yu.

Now that the old lady was willing to speak, Shu Yu felt it was a positive development.

"Regrets? Grandma, do you regret not being able to see Grandma Liu one last time?"

Grandma Lu shook her head. "No, my regret is that we never reconciled. Your Grandma Liu had a tough time in her early years, so when I was doing well, she was always resentful. When I was young, I thought there was something wrong with her head. I didn't harm her, so why did she resent me? But she wasn't a bad person; even though she resented me, she would still help me when needed, but she never had a good word to say and would always say things to make people angry."

Shu Yu was taken aback. It seemed her own grandmother was somewhat similar? She would curse people but act contrary to her words.

It was no wonder the two grandmothers became friends; they had something in common, right?

 Chapter 1481: Come Eat Supper

Grandma Lu's emotions were unstable, so Shu Yu could only ask Hua Xian to look after her and not disturb her further.

After leaving at Grandma Lu's courtyard, Shu Yu and Ruan Shi went their separate ways to attend to their own affairs.

Shu Yu reviewed the information she received from the Tan family today. She felt it was necessary to understand more about Jiang Kuanyu. Fortunately, the tenants on her estate had interacted with him before, so maybe she could gather some information from them.

She planned to visit her estate tomorrow, chat with the folks, and also organize the gift list for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival. She needed to distribute the gifts to her staff.

Lost in thought, she suddenly realized that it had been quite some time since she started working on the accounts. When she came back to her senses, she noticed that it was drizzling outside.

"What time is it?"

"It's the second watch of the Hai hour," Ying Xi answered softly.

"So late?" It was already half-past nine.

Shu Yu stretched and put away the account book. "Let's go, let's go back to rest."

For Shu Yu, this time wasn't too late, but in this era, most people would have already gone to bed.

Ying Xi quickly handed Shu Yu a cloak. It was autumn now, and although the days were still hot, nights were starting to get chilly, especially with the rain.

Tying the belt around her waist, Shu Yu accepted the umbrella from Ying Xi and closed the study's door. They walked toward Yu Garden.

Ying Xi followed with a lantern in hand. In the vast Lu estate, only the two of them were moving on the slightly wet ground.

As they approached Yu Garden, Shu Yu suddenly changed direction and headed elsewhere.

"Miss?"

"I'll take a look." Shu Yu went towards Grandma Lu's courtyard. Originally, she was feeling uneasy and wanted to check outside, but as she arrived at the courtyard's entrance, she saw that the lights inside were still on.

Ying Xi was also surprised. "Is old Madam still not asleep?"

Shu Yu frowned and took a few steps forward before turning around and leaving.

Ying Xi hurriedly caught up, but he didn't expect Shu Yu to walk toward the kitchen.

The kitchen was dark at this time, with no one around. Ying Xi quickly lit the candles, asking, "Miss, what are you going to do?"

"I'll make some noodles and add a few eggs," Shu Yu said.

"I'll light the fire," Ying Xi said as she saw Shu Yu already putting on an apron. He lit the stove and soon the fire was burning.

Shu Yu had prepared instant noodles. Making fresh noodles would take too much time now. She added some vegetables and meat shreds to the noodles, as well as some eggs, to make it nutritious.

The noodles cooked quickly. When she served them, Ying Xi had already extinguished the fire and washed the utensils.

"It smells delicious."

Shu Yu smiled and pointed to another large bowl, "I made one for you as well. You can have supper with Hua Xian later."

"Thank you, Miss," Ying Xi said as she touched her stomach; she was really hungry.

Shu Yu packed two portions into containers and carried one, while Ying Xi carried the other as they went back to Grandma Lu's courtyard.

When they arrived, the lights were still on, and Shu Yu could even catch glimpses of Hua Xian's figure moving inside the house.

The rain had already lessened, so Shu Yu put away the umbrella and lightly knocked on the door.

In a short while, Hua Xian opened the door.

 Chapter 631: Growing Vegetables and Cultivating Helpers (1)

The snowball hadn’t expected its words to make Mo Yan so anxious and quickly tried to comfort her. “Don’t worry, Yan Yan. With you here, and with that nation’s heir who’s not going to die anytime soon, Xiao Ruiyuan won’t meet a similar crisis. You two will definitely…”

At this point, the snowball abruptly stopped, clearly hinting at the “secrets of heaven and earth” that it couldn’t reveal.

Mo Yan didn’t notice the unfinished sentence. Hearing that Xiao Ruiyuan wouldn’t face similar crises again eased her fears somewhat.

Seeing her mood improve, the snowball let out a long sigh of relief and tried to change the topic, seeking some credit. “Yan Yan, would you like to know why you ended up here?”

Mo Yan’s attention was indeed captured by the question, and she asked curiously, “Isn’t it because my soul attached itself to Mo Yan’s body in this timeline after I died in my previous life?”

The snowball couldn’t hold back and rolled its eyes dramatically. “Do you think attaching a soul is as simple as eating and drinking? If it weren’t for me, you would have dispersed your soul at the age of ten, and you wouldn’t have lived to twenty-five to be blown up and reincarnate!”

“Well, I really should thank you for that!” Mo Yan nodded. Had her grandmother not used the ancient jade to anchor her soul when she was ten, her soul might have indeed dispersed, as the snowball said.

This thought made her reflect on her previous life, where her family had treated her so well. Although her current family was also very kind, she always felt uneasy, as if she had stolen this happiness, which left her with a sense of guilt and melancholy.

The snowball, sensing Mo Yan’s troubled thoughts, jumped around in her arms to draw her attention back. It said something that made Mo Yan even more incredulous than learning about the existence of heavenly rules.

“Are you saying... the soul of the original owner of this body is still here, and I’m sharing this body with her?” Mo Yan stared wide-eyed at the snowball, unable to believe it. If that were the case, why had she never felt the original owner’s presence?

The snowball’s eyes widened even more than Mo Yan’s, as if looking at a fool. “You were originally one entity. An accident caused the separation of souls, with one soul and three souls fragments going into your previous body, while the remaining two souls and four fragments went into this body. Now that one soul and three fragments have returned, she is you, and you are her. How can you say you’re sharing a body?”

Mo Yan frowned, believing the snowball’s words. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have frequently fallen into unexplainable comas in her previous life, and later needed the ancient jade to stabilize her soul. This seemed to be a sign of incomplete soul fragments wanting to disperse.

After reincarnating into this body, she inherited the original owner’s complete memories. Despite initial unfamiliarity, she quickly regarded her father and siblings as real family, probably sensing subconsciously that they were her loved ones. Even though she accepted this belief, she still couldn’t fully come to terms with it in a short period.

The snowball, perceptive as ever, noticed her inner turmoil and reassured her, “Isn’t it great? The family in this life is your real family, so you shouldn’t feel guilty or think you’ve stolen someone else’s happiness!”

However, mentioning this only deepened Mo Yan’s sadness. Tears welled up in her eyes as she murmured, “Even if I can live comfortably in this body, how do I repay my previous family? They raised me for over twenty years and truly cared for me. Yet, I can only stay here forever and never fulfill my filial duties to them, leaving them to endure the pain of losing a loved one!”

Even though she was surrounded by loving family in this life and lived a happy life, this sense of regret would always linger with her. 

 Chapter 630: Three Consecutive Upgrades and the Appearance of the Artifact Spirit (4)

Later, a cataclysm struck the cultivation world, causing massive destruction both in the cultivation realm and the mortal world. Ultimately, the once vast cultivation world was shattered into countless new lands. Some of these new lands allowed for continued cultivation, while others did not. The Mo family, who possessed the ancient jade space, happened to fall into one of the new lands where cultivation was no longer possible.

“The ancient jade space may not have been significant in the cultivation realm, but in a land where cultivation is impossible, it’s a miraculous existence!” The snowball explained seriously, its mature tone finally matching its demeanor. “However, it has no life and cannot assist its master in cultivation. It relies on the accumulation of merit to upgrade. Over generations, as merit accumulated, the new rules of heaven and earth eventually allowed its existence. The space also recognizes its master through bloodline and soul, so only descendants of the Mo family can open and use the space.”

The snowball kept a secret from Mo Yan: not every Mo family descendant could open the space. This was something it had surreptitiously changed after gaining intelligence and experiencing numerous difficulties. Only those it approved could use the space!

Mo Yan suddenly understood why she, both in this life and the last, had always been a part of the Mo family. It seemed that her previous family and her current family were descendants of that powerful cultivator’s daughter.

This revelation answered many of her questions about the space, but it also brought new ones. “Since the rules of heaven and earth allow the space to exist, shouldn’t you, as the artifact spirit of the space, have appeared earlier? I didn’t see you even when the space reached Level 5 in my previous life!”

The question struck a nerve with the snowball, which complained indignantly, “Who knows what new rules of heaven and earth are at play! When we arrived in the new land, I was sealed within the Merit Orb and fell into a deep sleep. The space reverted to its initial form, and only by accumulating merit to reach Level 6 could I awaken and break the seal to be reborn with the help of the master.”

Mo Yan pondered this, “The rules of heaven and earth allow a non-living space to exist, but since you are alive, they likely sealed you to prevent any potential misdeeds. The requirement for merit to renew your life shows this concern.”

Curious, she asked the snowball, “Do the rules of heaven and earth really exist? Is there such a thing as ‘good rewarded with good, and evil met with evil’?”

The snowball, deep in thought about Mo Yan’s previous words, gave her a scornful look at the new question. “Of course, they exist! These rules are akin to your moral standards, much stronger than any human-imposed laws. It’s like how good deeds are praised, and immoral acts are condemned, but there’s no direct punishment. Of course, ‘self-destruction’ is also part of these rules. Those who commit evil will eventually repay their karmic debts in some form.”

Mo Yan, once again scorned, shook her head and said, “I’m just learning about these heavenly rules for the first time. Who knows what they really are? Probably only an old monster like you, who has lived who knows how many years, would understand!”

The term “old monster” made the snowball flare up. “I’m clearly a freshly born little princess! You’re the old monster, having lived through two lifetimes!”

Mo Yan couldn’t help but laugh at the snowball’s thick-skinned reaction. Though the snowball wasn’t wrong, calling itself a “little princess” was something she chose to ignore!

The disgruntled snowball was quite entertaining. Mo Yan, unkindly teasing it, almost made it yell in frustration. If it weren’t for the fact that artifact spirits couldn’t harm their masters, it would have wanted to bite her for three days and nights.

Seeing the snowball’s feeble state, Mo Yan felt a pang of conscience and hugged it, gently poking its soft belly. “You mentioned earlier that the space would only break the seal and awaken when it reached Level 6. So, the space has now upgraded three levels in one go!”

The snowball wanted to roll its eyes again, but Mo Yan’s previous teasing had given it a deep psychological scar. It shrank back and said sullenly, “This time, you saved the heir to a nation, a future... well, fate shouldn’t be revealed. In short, this merit is even greater than you imagined, which is why the space has upgraded three levels! As for the benefits going forward... it’s too complicated to explain in just a few words. You’ll find out in the future.”

Mo Yan didn’t press further but instead asked about Xiao Ruiyuan. After all, it was his rescue that had led to the sudden upgrade of the space to Level 2.

“You should ask him,” the snowball drawled, its little black dots spinning rapidly, “His fate is intertwined with you and that national heir. When one benefits, the others do too. He saved your whole family, which is a great merit; meeting you, he helped the heir survive, adding even more merit! If it weren’t for his excessive killing, which offset much of the merit, the space would have upgraded more than just one level.”

Mo Yan’s eyes widened in shock, and she asked anxiously, “What if he hadn’t saved our family? What would have happened to him?”

The snowball snorted, “If he hadn’t saved you and gained your fortune, he would have died from his injuries the first time he was hurt.”

Mo Yan’s face turned pale, and she recalled the two major crises Xiao Ruiyuan had faced later on. One was falling off a cliff while being chased by the red python, and the other was being ambushed and nearly killed after the war this year... Each was a close brush with death. 

Chapter 1480: Too Sudden

However, as their lives diverged due to the increasing disparity in their living conditions, their friendship gradually drifted apart.

Initially, the old lady from the Liu family had a difficult life. Her husband wasn't easy to get along with, and on top of that, she had a strong and harsh mother-in-law. The old lady had a tendency to eat less and work harder when she was young, especially during childbirth when she didn't take good care of herself, resulting in frequent health issues.

On the other hand, Shu Yu's grandfather was willing to endure hardships and treated Grandma Lu kindly. Although she also had a strong mother-in-law, he stood by Grandma Lu's side. They separated early and lived their own lives.

During her childbirth, Grandma Lu had a good diet, which made her plump, and her several children grew up strong and tall.

But the old lady from the Liu family, after giving birth to one child, suffered two miscarriages before giving birth to two more children.

The only common point between the two old ladies was that they both had three sons.

With these differences, the old lady from the Liu family had a bit more confidence in her life, though it was still not easy. Meanwhile, Grandma Lu from the Lu family enjoyed a relatively comfortable life.

However, things changed when Ruan Pozi appeared, and Shu Yu was kidnapped and sold. Following that, the grandfather passed away, and Lu Erbai spent all his wealth searching for his daughter, leaving him unable to manage his own affairs.

Grandma Lu worked hard for the second household and endured a difficult life.

Ruan Shi said, "At that time, many people advised us to give up looking for you after so many years had passed. the old lady from the Liu family said a lot of hurtful things in front of your grandmother. Each time your grandmother heard it, she got angry and argued with her. Aunt Liu thought your grandmother was ungrateful and foolish, and your grandmother felt that she was always saying unpleasant things. They never spoke to each other again after that."

Ruan Shi knew these things the most clearly.

"But when you were found and came back, Liu family still sent gifts to congratulate us."

After that, the Lu family lived in the county, and the two old ladies had very few chances to talk.

Who knew that the old lady from the Liu family would leave like this? There were no signs beforehand.

Thinking of this, Ruan Shi couldn't help but ask Hua Xian, "What happened to Aunt Liu?"

"She fell ill," Hua Xian said. "At first, no one took it seriously, as she had a chronic condition since she was young. It seemed half a year ago she started experiencing occasional stomach pains. She didn't think it was a big problem, as the pain would go away after a while. But a few days ago, she suddenly couldn't bear the pain and Liu family quickly sent her to the county. However, on the way there, she passed away."

Ruan Shi's heart tightened upon hearing this. "So sudden?"

It seemed necessary for Ah Yu to regularly ask Zhao Xi to check the whole family's pulse, especially for the old lady.

Shu Yu sighed, "Grandma must have found it too sudden." After quarreling with each other for half their lives, the person suddenly left, so she couldn't help but feel low.