Chapter 1423: Shu Yu Slaps Back

Tao Qin lowered her head slightly and said softly, "Miss Lu, I know I'm not as good as you. You are the village lord, and your status is more noble than mine. But my aunt is Young Master Meng's aunt, and we naturally have an unbreakable relationship. Miss Lu, I'm willing to serve Young Master Meng with you."

"But I don't want to."

"Miss Lu, why do you have to refuse so quickly? My aunt's words just now were not wrong. She..."

Tao Qin's words were not finished yet when Tao Shi suddenly cleared her throat from the side.

The next moment, Shu Yu saw Tao Qin raise her head, looking as if she was about to cry, and then she slapped herself in the face with a "smack," then fell to the ground.

Shu Yu, "..."

Tao Shi rushed over, squatting beside Tao Qin, and asked sternly, "Lu Shu Yu, what are you doing, hitting someone?"

Shu Yu's mouth twitched, and at that moment, Meng Xiaoshu and the others entered the room.

"What's going on? What's happened?" asked Meng Xiaoshu in confusion.

Tao Shi pointed at Shu Yu, angrily saying, "husband, you have to make a decision for Ah Qin. She's been pushed too far. Ah Qin accidentally bumped into her, and she actually slapped her, poor Ah Qin is still unwell."

Meng Xiaoshu looked puzzled as he glanced at Shu Yu and then at Tao Qin lying on the ground.

Meng Xiaoshu couldn't understand, "Shu Yu, did you really hit her?"

Before Shu Yu could answer, Tao Shi continued, "Of course, she did! Yesterday, she said she would take an axe and smash her grandmother's house. I thought she was exaggerating and trying to scare people, but I didn't expect her to actually hit someone without any restraint."

Shu Yu smiled, watching as Tao Shi helped the crying Tao Qin stand up.

She suddenly turned her head and called, "Ying Xi."

"Miss." Ying Xi was at the door and came in with a few steps.

Shu Yu rubbed her wrist and said to her, "Help Miss Tao to the side to rest."

"Yes." Ying Xi went forward and helped Tao Shi walk to the side.

Tao Shi widened her eyes, "What are you doing? Let go of me!"

But she was no match for Ying Xi, who practiced martial arts, and her wrist was in severe pain. She could only stagger a few steps to the side.

Then, at the next moment, Shu Yu suddenly rushed forward and raised her hand.

With a "smack," she slapped Tao Qin's face heavily.

"Ah..." Tao Qin screamed and retreated two steps, falling to the ground in real pain.

Tao Shi's shouting stopped, and Meng Han subconsciously covered her mouth. Meng Xiaoshu was about to step forward but was stopped by Meng Yunzheng.

In the room, there was silence.

Shu Yu looked down at Tao Qin from above, satisfied with her handiwork.

Then she turned her head to look at Tao Shi, a smile on her face, "Auntie, do you see now? If I really hit someone, it would be at least this hard. How could I leave just a faint mark without any force? That would make me too useless."

Tao Shi stared at her in shock. She never expected that Shu Yu not only did not explain, but also actually struck someone in front of everyone.

Shu Yu shook her wrist and turned to Meng Han, "Little Sister Han, I heard you practiced martial arts, right?"

Meng Han opened her mouth and unconsciously nodded.

Shu Yu taught her, "Since you've practiced martial arts, your strength should be greater than your cousin's. If she insists on taking things from you next time, crying or reporting won't help. You should just fight back. One time, then twice, and if that's not enough, three times. Keep hitting until she's afraid. Understand?"

 Chapter 549: Hidden Malice (8)

It wasn’t really an “accident” as it was orchestrated by Mo Yan herself. She had instructed her spies to pose as ordinary people and inform the Fang family that they were looking for a suitable match with Mo Yongxi’s birthdate. Mo Yongxi, desperate and attracted by the prospect of such a match, was eager to seize the opportunity.

Mo Yongxi’s reputation in the village was tarnished, and no one, whether in the village or surrounding areas, was willing to marry her. As she grew older, the urgency to find a good match increased. When a seemingly good match fell from the sky, she grabbed it without hesitation.

While Mo Yongxi was trying to get close to the Fang family, Mo Yan had her spies pretend to be Daoist priests, prophesizing that if the Fang family married someone with a compatible birthdate, their family would flourish and their wealth would increase.

The Fang elders, believing the "priests" who seemed to know everything about them, followed their guidance and soon found Mo Yongxi, who had been waiting as instructed.

The Fang family then demanded a dowry of fifty taels of silver from the Old Mo family under the "priest's" direction, threatening to annul the marriage if the demand was not met. This led to incidents where Tie Tou was forced into marriage, and the Third Sister and Shi Tou were nearly sold. Eventually, it allowed them to escape the Old Mo family and reunite with Wu Shi.

...This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://www.eternalnovelhits.com

Mo Yan was not a saint. The Old Mo family had treated the original owner harshly, and even indirectly caused her death. She could not forgive them, as it would be unfair to the original owner.

After coming to Liuyang Village, the Old Mo family, especially Mo Yongxi, had tried to damage her reputation, destroy her crops, and even attempted to ruin her appearance. Mo Yongxi not only showed no remorse but also intensified her efforts to harm her. Mo Yan could not let such a venomous snake go unpunished.

If Mo Yongxi had been more rational and had investigated the Fang family thoroughly, she might have avoided marrying an unhappy man. Unfortunately, she was blinded by vanity and high self-esteem, never considering that the sweetness might be laced with poison.

Instead of letting her remain in the village causing harm, it was better to direct her malice elsewhere. It was not unfair for the Fang family to suffer; they knew their son preferred men yet still tried to harm an innocent girl by marrying her off to a man who would leave her miserable.

Seeing the Old Mo family’s downfall and the infighting, Mo Yan felt no regret. She had no qualms about letting them face their own reckoning.

Wu Shi, noticing Mo Yan's silence, thought she wasn’t interested in the matter and began talking about other topics. Eventually, she mentioned her eldest daughter, Da Nier, who was now seventeen: “I wonder what kind of marriage she will have. Da Ni has suffered a lot; I don’t expect her to become rich, but I hope she finds someone who truly cares for her and lives a good life.”

Since the news of their brick house spread, several suitors had shown interest but were turned down. It wasn’t due to any disdain for the suitors but because they had many siblings or unkind elders. She didn’t want her daughter to follow the same difficult path she had faced.

Mo Yan, observing the graceful and efficient Da Ni, comforted her with a smile: “Da Ni is capable and virtuous. Such a good girl is hard to find. Whoever marries her will be lucky. She will surely find a good match!”

Wu Shi, hearing this, smiled proudly, her wrinkles deepening: “I’m not boasting. Da Ni is indeed good. If not for that disaster, she wouldn’t be delayed until now. Fortunately, those scoundrels are gone, and we can find her a good family.”

At this moment, Da Ni, carrying a basket of vegetables, walked over and overheard the conversation. Her face turned red as she thought of a captivating face.

Noticing her blush, Mo Yan teased with a smile: “Look at Da Ni, all red-faced. Are you thinking about someone special?”

Da Ni was startled and blushed even more. Nervously or feeling guilty, she shook her head and stammered, “N-no, I wasn’t thinking about anything!”

“Ha ha, Da Ni'er’s face is so red I feel embarrassed teasing you now,” Mo Yan laughed heartily, unaware of Da Nier’s discomfort.

Wu Shi noticed her daughter’s unusual reaction and felt a pang of concern. She tested gently, “Da Ni’er, you’re a grown girl and usually sensible. If you have any thoughts, just tell me. I won’t blame you.”

Da Nier hesitated and then shook her head. “Mother, there’s nothing. Don’t worry about it. You should focus more on my brother. He hasn’t married yet.”

Wu Shi looked at her daughter intently and replied, “Your brother is a man; he won’t suffer as much. If he truly has someone he likes, regardless of her appearance or background, I will make sure he marries her.”

Da Ni’er, feeling guilty, glanced at her mother and hesitated. Seeing Mo Yan listening intently, she couldn’t help but say, “Yan’er will be fifteen next year. When Uncle Mo becomes a scholar, Yan’er will be a scholar’s daughter and might marry into an official family.”

Mo Yan was taken aback. She hadn’t expected the topic to shift to herself. Thinking about her father being a scholar and even a top scholar, she felt a pang of disappointment as her family background was far from that of the Fang family. She was left speechless.

  Chapter 548: Hidden Malice (7)

Mo Yan’s face showed a strange smile upon hearing this. “So it was set for today—what a good day.” She nearly forgot about this.

The villager didn’t notice Mo Yan’s odd expression and thought she was genuinely happy for the Old Mo family. He found it strange, though, as the two families had been estranged for a long time. Could it be that rich people think differently from ordinary folks?

Shaking his head, the villager decided not to dwell on it and focused on working hard to earn his thirty wen for the day.

Since the construction just started, there wasn’t much to do on-site today. Mo Yan went back home to help Li Xiu, Wu Shi, and two village women who had assisted with Mo’s house construction last year prepare lunch. Cooking for over a hundred workers from both construction sites was no easy task.

While washing vegetables, Wu Shi brought up Mo Yongxi’s marriage: “She’s lucky to marry into a wealthy family in the city as a primary wife. If she could change her nature and live a peaceful life, she’d be set for the rest of her life.”

Mo Yan’s lips curled into a cold smile as she shook her head. “Old habits die hard. With her temperament, it’s unlikely she’ll change. If she had married someone of similar status, they might have endured her. Now that she’s climbed so high, she’ll have her share of troubles.”

Wu Shi was puzzled and asked, “If the Fang family isn’t short of money and could easily find someone of similar or lesser status, why would they choose someone like Mo Yongxi?”

Mo Yongxi’s reputation was well-known in the village. Anyone with a good standing would avoid such a bride. The Fang family’s eagerness was unusual.

Mo Yan, seeing Wu Shi’s genuinely kind and gentle demeanor, decided not to share the unsavory details with her to spare her distress.

The Fang family, Mo Yongxi’s in-laws, owned a small general store with an annual income of seventy to eighty taels of silver. They had a servant for heavy chores, making them a modestly prosperous household.

The Fang family didn’t really admire Mo Yongxi’s appearance or character. Their only son, Fang Da Shao, was the sole heir. Unfortunately, this only heir was a gay man who had no interest in women, whether they were gentle or virtuous.

What made the Fang elders despair was that their son had fallen for an actress and secretly used the family’s savings to keep her. News of this affair quickly spread through the neighborhood.

When the Fang elders found out, they severely punished their son. Despite being bedridden from the beating, Fang Da Shao refused to leave the actress or marry a wife and start a family.

...This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://www.eternalnovelhits.com

Heartbroken yet unable to kill their only son, they decided to find a wife for him to cover up the family disgrace and preserve their lineage.

However, once the news of Fang Da Shao’s affair became known, no respectable families were interested in matchmaking. Even with promises of substantial rewards to matchmakers, the attempts were futile. No decent family would consider marrying their daughter into such a scandalous situation.

Seeing that city girls were no longer an option, the Fang elders looked to the outskirts. But as before, any potential candidates who inquired would quickly learn of the situation and withdraw. Just then, Mo Yongxi “accidentally” came into their view.

 Chapter 1422: Speaking from the Heart

Meng Yunzheng planned to return to Chenggu County and head to the mountain on his own. After visiting his mother, he would return to Jiangyuan County. Before that, he wanted to make all the necessary preparations to avoid staying in Chenggu County.

Meng Xiaoshu felt it was appropriate and suggested accompanying him.

At that moment, Tao Shi, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, "husband, why don't you make a list for them? Otherwise, those two young ones wouldn't know what to buy. You understand these things, write it down for them to avoid missing anything."

"That's a good idea. Ah Yun, let's go to the study, and I'll write the list for you," said Meng Xiaoshu.

"Alright." Meng Yunzheng led Meng Xiaoshu to the study.

As they left, Tao Shi turned to Meng Han, "You go and make tea for your father and cousin."

"I'll go." Shu Yu offered.

"Let her go," Tao Shi smiled, holding onto Shu Yu. "Ah Han is not young anymore, but she lacks some insight. She needs to exercise and not act like a spoiled girl."

Shu Yu raised an eyebrow, curious about what Tao Shi was up to.

So, she didn't say anything more, and Meng Han looked worriedly at her. Based on her understanding of Tao Shi, she had a feeling that her mother was up to something.

However, Tao Shi just guided her out of the main hall to do a normal task, making tea, and she couldn't decline, so she went to the kitchen.

With that, Meng Xiaoshu and Meng Yunzheng went to the study, Ying Xi and Xia Yan went to feed the horses and harness the carriage, and Meng Han made tea in the kitchen. Only the three of them were left in the main hall.

Tao Shi finally let go of Shu Yu's hand, and her and Tao Qin's smiling expressions suddenly changed dramatically, like they were putting on an act, becoming exceptionally dramatic.

Shu Yu looked at the two of them, "Do you have something to tell me, Auntie?"

"Yes." Tao Shi nodded and put on a serious expression, "Shu Yu, I know my words yesterday made you unhappy. After we returned to the inn, the master also talked to me, asking me to get along well with you, saying that you are Yunzheng's future wife and part of the Meng family."

"Well, I have also thought carefully about it. Since we are family, as an elder, I feel obligated to speak candidly and sincerely to you."

Shu Yu quietly watched her, curious about what Tao Shi wanted to say.

Tao Shi sighed, "You have seen it too. Ah Yun is very talented in his studies, achieving outstanding results in the imperial examination on his first attempt, even obtaining third place in the small triennial exams. With his achievements and appearance, he is not an ordinary person. It's possible for him to become a high-ranking official, right?"

That's not right; Ah Yun's future plan is not to become an official.

But Shu Yu didn't interrupt and simply observed her.

Tao Shi continued, "As an experienced person, I have seen and heard many things. Throughout history, officials in the imperial court all had three or four wives and numerous concubines, isn't that so?"

"Let alone court officials, any person with some achievements will have women throwing themselves at him."

"Now, you are engaged to Ah Yun, but this engagement may not be effective. When he becomes an official, he will be rewarded with women as well. Yunzheng might not want to accept them, but he will have to. In the future, there will be many of such situations for you to face, right?"

Shu Yu smiled, "So, Auntie wants to talk to me about this? That's why you are desperately trying to match Tao Qin with Ah Yun?"

As she spoke, she glanced at Tao Qin.

 Chapter 1421: Difficult to Interfere

After listening, Shu Yu remained silent for a while, then shook her head and sighed, "For the moment, I don't know what can be done."

Meng Han felt somewhat disappointed, but she didn't insist on finding a solution.

Shu Yu patted her shoulder, "Alright, let's take our time to think about it. It's getting late; you should rest now. There are things to do tomorrow."

"Okay."

Meng Han stood up dejectedly, climbed onto the bed, and went to sleep.

Shu Yu, on the other hand, stayed in place and had a few sips of tea. Solving Tao Shi's problem was not an easy task, but there must be a way. However, this was a matter for the Meng family, and Shu Yu's involvement was minimal.

Even if Meng Han asked her to come up with ideas, she couldn't simply dictate how things should be handled.

They had only just met, and she couldn't be sure if Meng Han's words were entirely true.

Perhaps she should consult with Meng Yunzheng first.

The next morning, while Meng Han was getting ready, Shu Yu spoke with Meng Yunzheng.

The latter didn't seem surprised and commented, "What she said is true. My aunt is indeed fixated on her younger brother, and she treats her nephews and nieces better than her own children. The term 'brother-supporting demon' is quite fitting."

He chuckled and nodded in agreement.

Shu Yu resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "So, do we intervene in this matter?"

Meng Yunzheng shook his head, "It's difficult to interfere."

The key to resolving Tao Shi's problem lies with Uncle Meng. It's a family matter for Uncle Meng and Meng Han's brother, Meng Qi.

Meng Yunzheng, as a newly returned 'pseudo-nephew' to the Meng family, getting involved would not be appropriate.

"I understand," Shu Yu replied.

However, while they had no intention of meddling in Meng family affairs, the Tao family had other ideas and wanted to get involved in their matters.

As they were discussing this, Meng Xiaoshu arrived with Tao Shi and Tao Qin.

The three of them came early, holding breakfast they bought from outside, including various kinds of dumplings, noodles, and buns.

To Meng Xiaoshu, Meng Yunzheng was a junior and a student without any income. He had already spent a lot on the big feast last night, so he felt responsible for the necessities and expenses of the rest of the family.

With a smile, Meng Xiaoshu placed the food on the table and asked Meng Han, "Did you cause any trouble to your cousin and Ah Yu last night?"

Meng Han felt a little guilty for talking to Shu Yu for so long last night, but Shu Yu, passing by, said, "No, Ah Han is well-behaved."

Meng Xiaoshu became even more pleased, "That's good. Come, let's have breakfast together."

Shu Yu looked at Tao Shi and Tao Qin with some suspicion. Why were these two... strangely quiet since they entered the room? And they were smiling so amiably. Compared to yesterday, it was like they were different people.

What's going on? Were they hiding some mischief?

After finishing breakfast, Meng Yunzheng said he would go buy something in the street, "I'm going to Chenggu County tomorrow to pay respects to my mother. Since I passed the examination, I should tell her the good news."

 Chapter 547: Hidden Malice (6)

Thinking of this, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face. The master now had a beloved lady, and soon he would marry and have a true wife who cared for him and children who would bring him familial joy. The old Marquis could finally rest in peace.

Xiao Ruiyuan’s gaze fell once more on the letter, his expression inscrutable.

It had taken considerable effort to trace the origin of the Heart-Eating Poison. Not only him but also twenty years ago when the late Empress was poisoned and his cousin was gravely injured, it was the same person who had provided the poison to the Lin family, which was then used by that consort to poison the late Empress.

While the consort who administered the poison was indeed detestable, the Lin family, Empress Lin, and the poison supplier were the true culprits. Until they were completely eradicated, the suffering of his cousin would never end.

What surprised him was that the poison supplier had connections to Yan'er. If not for Shiliu noticing something unusual and investigating, he wouldn’t have known that Yan'er’s birth mother was still alive and was now the wife of his and his cousin’s enemy.

Not to mention that the woman was his enemy, just thinking about how Du Shi abandoned her husband and children to elope made Xiao Ruiyuan harbor no good feelings toward his future “mother-in-law.” Therefore, he had no intention of sharing this matter with the woman he loved.

……

On the eighth day of the eighth month, an auspicious day for marriage and ground-breaking, Mo Yan was busy with both the rice harvesting and the ground-breaking for the wine house and Wu's new home.

With everything scheduled at once, Mo Yan found it difficult to manage everything. Fortunately, Grandpa Ding was in the fields, so she didn’t need to worry about the rice harvest. The villagers who helped with the harvest went home for lunch, and Mo’s family only needed to send some tea to the fields.

For the rice harvest, Mo Yan had sent about half of the village laborers away. The remaining villagers were supervised by Lin Yong, with thirty selected workers. Twenty were led by Master Lu to dig the foundation for the wine house, while the other ten helped dig the foundation for Wu's new home. Master Lu’s top disciple was handling the construction of Wu’s house, making it a simple task.

Mo Qingze was preparing for the provincial examination in September and was thus unavailable. Mo Yan had to take on all the responsibilities for the wine house construction.

The bricks, tiles, and wood had long been prepared. The wine house’s construction area was not smaller than Mo’s family residence and would even surpass it once completed.

However, the construction of the wine house couldn’t be rushed. Mo Yan divided the project into three phases. The first phase, which was currently underway, would be completed before winter. By next autumn, when the interior was furnished and the orchard’s fruit had ripened, the wine house would be ready for use.

The second and third phases would be built in the spring and autumn of the following year. The families who had hired Master Lu to build their houses would have to wait. If not for Master Lu’s interest in the blueprints Mo Yan provided and the favor of Liu Tinglan, he might not have agreed.

A long string of firecrackers exploded, marking the official start of construction as Mo Yan took the first shovel of earth.

...This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://www.eternalnovelhits.com

Just as the firecracker noise from one side ended, a longer string of firecrackers erupted from the other side. Mo Yan looked over and saw that it wasn’t the location where Wu’s house was being built. She casually asked a nearby villager, “Is there a wedding in the village today?”

Generally, when a family had a wedding, they would inform close friends and invite them for a drink. Others would go to congratulate them and seek good fortune.

The villager thought for a moment, looked at Mo Yan hesitantly, and said, “It should be the Old Mo family’s daughter getting married. I heard the Fang family wanted to marry quickly, but July was a ghost month with no good days, so they scheduled it for August.”

  Chapter 546: Hidden Malice (5) 

Since it turned black, the black lingze had not changed in size, but its color seemed even darker, glistening with an oily sheen as if it might drip oil at any moment.

In contrast, the two ginseng plants had changed significantly. Although the ginseng bodies underground were not visible, their noticeably larger size and vibrant green leaves indicated that they were growing very well.

After watering them with spiritual spring water and pulling out the surrounding medicinal herbs that had grown around them, Mo Yan looked at the golden yellow and spreading green in the space with a bit of a headache.

Previously, she had worried about the chickens becoming a nuisance, but now that they had been moved to the orchard, most of the space was occupied by various medicinal herbs.

Before the medicine garden was established, she collected seeds daily. Once she had enough seeds, she mostly neglected them and focused all her efforts on growing food crops. Although medicinal herb seeds would continue to grow without being picked, their roots and stems would keep growing in the soil. After more than a year, what had started as less than two mu had grown to its current state.

...This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://www.eternalnovelhits.com

Mo Yan crouched down, resignedly pulling out the medicinal herbs that were almost covering the rice plants, piling them to the side. She planned to take them to Dr. Du when she had time.

She spent a good two to three hours on this task. Standing up, wiping the sweat from her forehead, and rubbing her aching back, she looked at the areas she hadn’t yet cleared and shouted in frustration, “Heaven, grant me a万能小帮手 (万能小帮手 means 'all-purpose assistant')! I will offer you pigs, cows, and sheep during festivals! Ah——ah——ah——”

Unaware that the Jade Heart’s merit bead flashed with ripples on its transparent surface, where a tiny black dot appeared for a moment before vanishing as if it had never existed.

……

In the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion, the study in the outer courtyard.

Xiao Ruiyuan was frowning as he read a book titled “Mingzhou Mountain Chronicles,” a book introducing the mountains of the continent.

Recently, aside from handling official duties, Xiao Ruiyuan had devoted all his energy to books about mountains, hoping to find potential locations where thousand-year-old ginseng might grow and then send people to search for them.

This approach was akin to finding a needle in a haystack. Even if they could determine which famous mountains and rivers might harbor thousand-year-old ginseng, the people sent might not find it.

However, this was the only method available. With Chu Heng’s time running short, Xiao Ruiyuan had less than five months to find the thousand-year-old ginseng. This was all he could do.

“Knock, knock, knock—”

While Xiao Ruiyuan was deep in thought, the study door was knocked. Xiao Shiyi entered, presenting a recently received letter. “Master, there is news from Shiliu.”

Xiao Ruiyuan set aside his book and took the letter. When he read its contents, a grave expression crossed his calm eyes. “Tell Shiliu to keep a close watch and report immediately if there’s any news! Also, send two more people to secretly protect Miss Mo. If anyone dares to harm her, kill them—without mercy!”

At that moment, Xiao Ruiyuan was genuinely enraged. If it weren’t for the fear of disrupting the bigger situation, he would have ordered the death of those who investigated Mo Yan the moment they were sent.

“Yes! I will follow your orders!” Xiao Shiyi responded, suppressing his shock. The master’s command had once again shifted his perception of Miss Mo.

Even without extraordinary beauty or a prestigious background, the fact that the master valued her so highly, even deploying six skilled covert guards for her protection, meant that Miss Mo was indeed exceptional. It seemed that the master had truly fallen for her!

 Chapter 1420: Most Hated Meng Yunzheng

"Sister Ah Yu, you don't know, when my father was in danger before, it was my maternal grandfather who saved his life."

Shu Yu suddenly understood that Meng Yunzheng's uncle a person who valued gratitude and friendship. After this in-laws parents passed away and this brother-in-law was not capable enough, he took it upon himself to bear the responsibility.

Moreover, considering the current situation in the Meng family, what Tao Shi did was not enough to cross uncle Meng's bottom line.

Meng Han forced a bitter smile. "My father is generous by nature. When I told him that my mother gave all my belongings to my cousin, he thought it was fine and that he could buy me new things."

Shu Yu patted her shoulder. "I understand that human emotions are complex. Buying new things won't be the same as the original ones, and the meaning behind them would be different."

"Sister Ah Yu, your words really comfort me. When I told others about this, they couldn't understand my feelings and thought I was being petty. Only you know how sad and upset I am." After filing several complaints with Uncle Meng, Meng Han gave up since it had no effect.

Besides, Uncle Meng was away on escort missions most of the time, and whenever he returned, Meng Han was happy to see him, so she didn't want to bother him with these matters.

However, her feelings for her maternal uncle were now only filled with disgust.

"What about your father? Can't you rely on him? What about your older brother?"

"My brother... he can somewhat understand me. His belongings were also sent to our uncle's house by my mother. He also dislikes what our mother did. But since he was sent to study when he was young, he was always busy and even lived at school later, so he didn't suffer as much as I did. As he grew older, he became more like my father. As long as our mother's actions don't cross the line, he just turns a blind eye. And... "

Meng Han said, looking up at Shu Yu.

The latter raised an eyebrow, "And what?"

"And my brother's most disliked person now is our cousin."

Shu Yu replied, "..."

"Why? Does he think that Ah Yun will compete with him for the family's inheritance?"

Meng Han shook her head. "No, I mentioned it earlier, didn't I? My brother is studying, but he's not cut out for it, just like the other members of the Meng family. My father thinks studying is important, so he wanted him to at least become a xiucai. But my brother failed the exams twice and even fell seriously ill once. Last year, my father gave up and told him to take the last exam this year, and if he still couldn't pass, then forget about it."

"Who would have known, in the second half of last year, our cousin returned and said he wanted to take the imperial exam. This year, he even ranked first in the county exam. Although my brother failed, my father seems to have seen hope. Not only did he force my brother to continue studying, but he also spent a lot of money to send him to the most prestigious school. My father believes that if our cousin can achieve so much, it proves that the Meng family still has a talent for studying, and if my brother works hard, he can do it too."

Shu Yu almost choked on her water. She didn't know if the Meng family had a talent for studying, but the problem was that Meng Yunzheng had no blood relation to the Meng family.

Hmm, now she understood why Meng Han's brother disliked Meng Yunzheng.

He was finally about to be free, but with Meng Yunzheng's arrival, his hope was completely shattered.

On this point, Shu Yu sympathized with him.

Other people's children are always easy to provoke hatred.

"Sister Ah Yu, do you think you can help?" Meng Han asked with hope.

Since she couldn't rely on her parents or her older brother, she could only seek help from others.

 Chapter 1419: It's as If Meng Yunzheng Has Become One of Their Family

As she continued speaking, Meng Han's discomfort deepened.

She took a deep breath. "Actually, when Uncle and Cousin first returned, I didn't like them and even resisted their presence. It's because we already have a leech in our family, and I didn't want another one."

"My mother kept telling us that they came back to claim their share of the family property and drive us out. But later, when Uncle left and Aunt was buried, they hurriedly left our house."

"Mother was ecstatic, but I still doubted that it was just a trick by Uncle and cousin to make us lower our guard. So, she worked tirelessly to transfer things to the Tao family, thinking it was safer there."

"If my father hadn't been at home during that time and not away on business, my mother would have been even more extreme."

"Afterward, cousin came back, saying he was back to take part in the county examination."

"Everyone in our family, including me, didn't hold much hope for him because no one from the Meng family has ever been good at studying."

"But he achieved the top score in the county examination, which brought honor to our family."

"My uncle was so happy, and the Tao family set their eyes on cousin then. Mother liked the idea, never considering that he already had a fiancée."

"But cousin came to the Changjin city after the county examination results were out. Mother thought of waiting for his prefectural examination results before making a decision."

"But he also got the top score in the prefectural examination."

"The Tao family was overjoyed and treated him as if he were already one of their family."

"When the results of the provincial examination came out, my uncle came to the county city. At that time, Tao Qin wanted to come along, but the weather was changing a lot, and she caught a cold, so she couldn't leave the house."

"But that didn't stop her and the Tao family's plan. After the results were out, she said she would come over."

"I didn't originally plan to come because I wasn't very familiar with my cousin, and it felt strange to come all of a sudden. But since my cousin came along, I was worried that something might happen, so I insisted on coming. It was also an opportunity to seek advice from my cousin."

"Who knew that my cousin's fiancée was also here, and my cousin was completely defeated in their confrontation."

Meng Han was delighted and almost burst into laughter. She was Tao Shi's daughter, but she wished for Tao Shi to suffer a loss.

"Sister Ah Yu, I really don't know what to do anymore. When I was young, she gave my toys and food to my cousin. As I grew older, she gave my clothes and jewelry to my cousin. I cried, I threw tantrums, and I almost ran away from home. But my mother thought I was being unreasonable, that I was immature and didn't understand the importance of building a good relationship with my uncle's family, that my uncle would be my support in the future."

"Support? More like a leech! If she wants something, she can take it. I'm better off alone than having an uncle and his family."

Shu Yu listened attentively, pondering the situation. "In theory, your father should be the one to solve this issue. He's the most capable of stopping your mother from transferring things to your uncle's home from yours. It's better to tell your father about this rather than telling me."

But at the mention of her father, Meng Han's eyes filled with tears.

 Chapter 545: Hidden Malice (4)

Grandpa Ding’s joy was contagious to Mo Yan. She invited him to sit down and said with a smile, “When they first gave me the rice seeds, they only mentioned that it was a new variety that could save a lot of seeds. I didn’t expect the yield to be so high! Please keep this matter confidential and remind the villagers who helped not to spoil the rice out of envy.”

It wasn’t that she was overly cautious, but in this era, a yield of a thousand catties per mu of rice was extraordinarily incredible. If this news spread, it would cause a huge uproar, and as the owner of such high-yield rice, she would naturally become the target of others' attention.

Although she had the backing of Yan Junyu, generally, people wouldn’t dare to target the high-yield rice. However, the prestige of Young Master Yan didn’t deter certain people in the imperial family. If someone wanted to interfere, even Yan Junyu wouldn’t be able to stop them.

“Don’t worry, young miss. I’ve already instructed the villagers not to talk about it. They won’t gossip,” Grandpa Ding promised readily without asking further.

Though he was just a simple farmer with little worldly experience, he could guess the implications. Before he fled, someone in his hometown developed a delicious sauce, and others coveted the recipe. The person who made the sauce intended to build a workshop and gather funds, but the workshop caught fire as soon as it was completed, and the whole family of six perished in the blaze. It was a tragic end!

A single recipe could destroy a family, let alone rice with a yield of a thousand catties per mu. The Mo family had always been benevolent. Who in the village hadn’t received help from the Mo family? If it hadn’t been for the Mo family providing food and cotton cloth during the winter two years ago, his own family of seven or eight might have starved or frozen to death.

Mo Yan didn’t know what Grandpa Ding was thinking but felt she had found the right person. After some thought, she discreetly took out a purse containing fifty taels of silver from her space and handed it to Grandpa Ding. “Master Ding, the rice will be ready for harvest soon. After the harvest, you can distribute this fifty taels of silver as wages to the workers.”

...This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://www.eternalnovelhits.com

Grandpa Ding, staring at the heavy purse in his hand, nearly dropped it when he heard there were fifty taels inside. He hurriedly tried to return the purse to Mo Yan, refusing to accept it. “Young miss, this is too much, too much. I can’t accept it, really can’t!”

Mo Yan smiled and explained, “This fifty taels of silver includes wages as well as a red envelope for everyone. Without your careful attention, the rice wouldn’t have grown so well. This is what you all deserve. Besides, you’ll need to continue taking care of the fields next year!”

Managing over a hundred mu of rice fields required regular weeding and irrigation, and sometimes dealing with pests under the scorching sun. Although the wages were considerable, they were earned through hard work. Compared to the value of the rice, fifty taels of silver was not much. Giving more was also to ensure that the workers wouldn’t leak the news before the harvest.

After some more protests, Grandpa Ding understood Mo Yan’s intentions and finally accepted the purse. When he returned home with the heavy purse, he immediately gathered the forty to fifty villagers who usually helped and instructed them to keep the matter confidential, telling them that once the rice was safely stored, each person would receive a tael of silver as wages.

The villagers were thrilled upon hearing this. Just working hard for ten days or half a month to earn a tael of silver was a great deal. In the city, it would take a month and a half or even two months of hard labor to earn that much!

Leaving the villagers in high spirits, Mo Yan had dinner and then went back to her room with the three beasts, closing the door behind her. She proceeded to her space as usual to check on the black lingze and the two old ginseng plants.

 Chapter 544: Hidden Malice (3)

Chen Ji acted swiftly. As soon as Du Shi left the study, he dispatched two groups of people. One group headed south, traveling a thousand miles to Liuyang Village to inquire about the Mo family’s situation. The other group discreetly took away all the servants who had accompanied Du Shi that day for interrogation...

Meanwhile, Mo Yan, who was busy transporting boxes of gold into her hidden space, had no idea that her family was being targeted. Seeing the valuable items piling up under the jade platform, she clapped her hands in satisfaction.

Besides a box full of gold, there were five medium-sized wooden boxes filled with ten-tael silver ingots. Most of these silver ingots were the profits from the rice shop over the past nine months, with the rest coming from dividends from the timber business, selling herbs, wild game, and leftover funds from building the house, totaling around eight thousand taels.

The remaining boxes, large and small, contained various treasures, rare furs, and precious fabrics, all of which were New Year's gifts from Xiao Ruiyuan last year.

Initially, Mo Yan had wanted to return these priceless gifts to Xiao Ruiyuan. Later, when their relationship took a certain turn, she mentioned during one of their meetings that he should take them back. However, Xiao Ruiyuan said nothing, simply staring at her with those icy eyes, as if daring her to bring it up again. Afraid of the severe consequences of provoking such a domineering person, Mo Yan immediately fell silent. She couldn't bear the potential repercussions of angering him.

Unable to return the gifts and not wanting to explain them to the straightforward Mo Qingze, nor let him know about her relationship with Xiao Ruiyuan, she hid everything in her space.

As long as she didn’t have the bad luck she had in her past life where the space got formatted, there was no safer place than the space to store her valuables. Mo Yan felt completely secure hiding all her belongings there.

Half an hour before dinner, Mo Yan picked up a sickle, ready to harvest the ripe rice, when she heard a knock on the door and Li Yan's voice: "Sister Yan, Grandpa Ding is here to see you. He looks very anxious!"

Grandpa Ding was a villager Mo Yan had hired to take care of the lowland and terraced rice fields. He was honest and diligent, tending the rice fields so well that Mo Yan rarely had to worry. He usually only sought her out to pay for labor when it was time to weed or deal with pests.

Upon hearing this, Mo Yan quickly put down the sickle and stepped out of her space, opening the door and running to the front, clearly worried that something had gone wrong with the rice fields. After all, the rice would be ready for harvest in less than a month.

...This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://www.eternalnovelhits.com

This time, Grandpa Ding came with a "problem" with the rice, but it was a good problem!

"Young Mistress, good news, great news! The rice in the lowlands and terraces has all filled out with grain, just as you said. Each grain is full; it's a new variety, a high-yielding new variety." Seeing Mo Yan come out, Grandpa Ding stood up excitedly, speaking incoherently.

When they initially planted the seedlings with such wide spacing, the young mistress had said it was necessary for the new variety. He had been skeptical at the time, but now those seedlings had grown densely. Without the proper spacing, they might have suffocated, just as she had said.

He had thought that this would only save some seed, but to his surprise, the rice heads that emerged were more than three times longer than the old rice he had planted before. Although everyone suspected that this new variety was extraordinary, he still worried that the heads wouldn't fill out properly, leaving most of the grains empty.

For days, he had patrolled the fields tirelessly, dreaming that the heads would fill with grain. Unexpectedly, they actually did. He inspected every field thoroughly and found that almost every rice head had only three or five empty grains. This meant that the yield from these rice heads would be three times that of the old rice. Calculating this, each mu of paddy field could produce over a thousand jin of rice, an unprecedented amount

 Chapter 1418: The Brother-Supporting Demon

Seeing Shu Yu agree to help, Meng Han immediately leaned closer, sitting up straight.

"Um, can you find a way to make my mother distant from my uncle's family?" Meng Han asked.

Shu Yu was bewildered by this request as it seemed quite inexplicable.

Meng Han sighed, feeling somewhat powerless. "You saw it yourself, my mother treats my cousin with more affection than she does with me. She scolds me as much as she pampers my cousin. Sometimes, I can't even tell who is the parent and who is the daughter."

Shu Yu observed the young girl sitting in front of her, who was two years younger than herself. Perhaps inheriting good genes from the Meng family, she was slightly taller than Tao Qin, whom Shu Yu had met before.

If they were in modern times, this would be the age when young teenagers would be particularly concerned about whether their parents were favoring one sibling over the other.

This could be a headache. How should she respond to the whims of a teenager going through puberty?

Shu Yu felt completely inexperienced in handling such matters, and after thinking hard, she said with difficulty, "Perhaps it's just a temporary situation. Your cousin is slightly older than you, and when she reaches the age to marry, your mother might..."

"It's not temporary," Meng Han interrupted, looking serious.

Shu Yu was taken aback and gazed at Meng Han, suddenly feeling that maybe this wasn't just a temporary matter for a teenager.

As expected, Meng Han continued, "My mother has been favoring my uncle and my cousin for over a decade now."

Furrowing her eyebrows, Shu Yu felt a bit troubled and said, "Oh dear, how can I put it?"

Shu Yu poured some tea into her cup. "Have some water and take your time explaining."

Meng Han moistened her throat, put the cup down, and her thoughts became clearer.

"Sister Ah Yu, you might not fully understand. My mother treats my uncle exceptionally well. Even before my cousin married into their family, she treated my uncle as if he were her own son, even though he is only two years younger than her. This situation has continued until now. Whenever my uncle needs help, she immediately rushes to assist him without hesitation."

Shu Yu understood. "The Brother-Supporting Demon, huh?"

"What Brother-Supporting Demon?" Meng Han was momentarily confused but then grasped the meaning and nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, that's pretty much it. She supports her brother so much that it has reached the point of being demonic."

This wasn't an exaggeration. Thanks to Uncle Meng running a caravan, their family's financial situation was quite good.

At least it was much better than Tao Qin's family, who were ordinary farmers in the village. But with Tao Shi's support, the Tao family not only bought a house in the county, but they also enjoyed a prosperous life.

One could see it from Tao Qin's appearance; if it weren't for Tao Shi and the Meng family, she wouldn't be acting like a delicate young lady.

In the past, it was bearable since Tao Shi's family was living a better life, and she could rest easy.

But ever since Meng Pei and Meng Yunzheng returned to the Meng family, Tao Shi was afraid they would compete for the family's wealth and possessions. So she became even more relentless in transferring things to her family.

Now it had gone too far. The Tao family had set their eyes on the promising Meng Yunzheng, and Tao Shi wanted to match him with Tao Qin, whether Meng Yunzheng had agreed to it or not, whether he showed any interest in her or not.

Meng Han saw her mother acting like she was obsessed, and at this rate, their family would fall apart sooner or later.

Though she didn't like her mother's personality, she also didn't want their good family to be destroyed.

 Chapter 1417: What Kind of Help?

Shu Yu was puzzled and had a bunch of question marks floating above her head. Meng Han wanted her to help... but how? They had just met today, and they weren't familiar with each other, so what could she possibly do to help?

Despite her confusion, Shu Yu still walked to the table, poured them both a glass of water, and after they both sat down, she smiled and asked, "Why did you think of asking me for help, little sister Ah Han?"

"Because you dared to carry an axe to your grandmother's house and confront someone," Meng Han said.

Shu Yu, "...Huh? So, do you want me to carry an axe and confront someone for you?"

"No, not that," Meng Han's eyes sparkled as she looked at Shu Yu, admiration in her gaze. "I just think you have a strong personality. You don't let others take advantage of you just because they are elders. You are the first junior I've seen who dares to stand up against my mother."

Typically, as Meng Yunzheng's future wife, she should be polite to the other party's relatives. Even if they were making things difficult, most people would endure it. Even if they were unhappy, they wouldn't lose Tao Shi's face in front of Meng Yunzheng.

However, Shu Yu didn't give Tao Shi any advantages. When they arrived, she even refused to cook for them.

She had countered every word Tao Shi said.

Although they didn't openly argue, the tense atmosphere had already reached the point where they couldn't get along harmoniously.

Meng Han felt that Shu Yu had a sense of confidence and self-assurance, and she couldn't help but feel a subtle, unnoticeable admiration for her.

However, after hearing Meng Han's words, Shu Yu had a bad feeling in her heart.

Meng Han said she dared to confront Tao Shi, so was she asking her for help related to Tao Shi?

Shu Yu didn't want to get involved in Meng Yunzheng's family affairs. She wasn't familiar with them, and even after she and Meng Yunzheng got married, they would be living in Dong'an Prefecture. It was far away from Meng Yunzheng's uncle's family, and they wouldn't have many interactions. They would just treat each other as ordinary relatives.

It would be better not to meddle in the Meng family's affairs.

Shu Yu was about to politely decline her request when she saw Meng Han lower her head and say softly, "Actually, I came to the city this time to seek my cousin's advice. Although we are not close, he's someone who passed the provincial exam three times in a row and must be very intelligent."

Indeed, Meng Yunzheng was intelligent, but didn't they still strongly oppose him returning to the Meng family with Meng Pei before?

Meng Han sighed, "It's just that when I looked at my cousin's expression earlier, I felt a bit scared. I thought about how you, sister Shu Yu, managed to become a village head based on your own abilities and how my cousin values you so much. I'm sure you're also a very clever person. That's why I came to you for help."

Shu Yu pursed her lips. Just because you praised me, it doesn't mean I'll blindly agree.

Am I that superficial?

However, seeing Meng Han's situation, if she couldn't get help from her, she would probably go to Meng Yunzheng.

Meng Yunzheng wasn't a person with a soft heart, but if this matter involved his uncle, he wouldn't be able to turn a blind eye.

Both of them knew that Meng Yunzheng wasn't actually the Meng family's real son. However, Meng Yunzheng had always been treated with utmost sincerity by his uncle, who treated him like a true nephew. With just this point alone, Meng Yunzheng would lend a helping hand if he could.

Forget it, who else could she turn to?

Shu Yu looked up at Meng Han. "Tell me what you need help with."

If it wasn't something too troublesome, then maybe she would consider... considering it?

 Chapter 543: Hidden Malice (2)

Chen Ji's eyes dimmed, and he gently embraced Du Shi, saying indifferently, "It's not Lan'er's fault that we don't have children. Even if we don't have children, I will make sure everything is arranged for our future. I can't let Lan'er be without care in her old age!"

If he could, he certainly wished his beloved woman could bear him a child, even a daughter would be fine. But after so many years without any sign, he had given up hope!

Du Shi, upon hearing this, felt even more sorrowful. She leaned tightly against her husband's chest and said painfully, "If I hadn't abandoned those three children back then, maybe I wouldn't be unable to have children now. This must be Heaven's punishment for me, punishing me for being a cruel mother. It must be, it must be!"

Chen Ji's expression changed, and he scolded, "Don't think like that. Even if there is retribution, it's Heaven punishing me, not you!"

Worried that he might scare his wife, he softened his tone, a hint of suspicion appearing on his face. "All these years, you've never mentioned those three children in front of me. I didn't bring it up because I feared it would make you sad. Why are you mentioning it today... are you hiding something from me?"

Du Shi was startled, shaking her head in panic. "No, no! Today, I saw a couple with their children joyfully strolling in the street, and I thought of how I couldn't give you children to carry on the family line or let you enjoy the happiness of having a family. I couldn't help but think of those children! Ji Ge, I'm not hiding anything from you. Please don't be angry."

She couldn't, under any circumstances, let Ji Ge know that the children were also in the capital. Otherwise, he would definitely harm them! If she hadn't desperately stopped him back then, those three children and that man might have been harmed by Ji Ge. She already felt guilty enough towards them and couldn't let Ji Ge harm them now.

Seeing the flickering look in his wife's eyes, Chen Ji's gaze darkened with malice. He restrained himself from acting out, his expression becoming even more tender. "Lan'er, I'm not angry. It's just that seeing you so sad makes me feel bad too! If you want, I will send someone to Mo Family Village to bring those three children back to reunite with you! However, there were natural disasters and banditry in that area a couple of years ago. I don't know how things are now." As he spoke, he carefully observed his wife's reaction.

If she hadn't seen the three children before, Du Shi would have been very worried upon hearing this. But now, knowing that the children were safe and seemed to be doing well, she naturally wasn't as worried. However, to avoid arousing Chen Ji's suspicion, she still showed a concerned expression and said anxiously, "Ji Ge, then quickly send someone to check. If they're safe, let them stay there. If something has happened... it can only be their bad luck..."

Saying this, Du Shi's eyes reddened again, but not from worry. It was because she might never be able to reunite with her own children, or even receive their forgiveness.

She wasn't worried that her husband's people would find the children. The natural disasters and turmoil from a few years ago had displaced so many people that finding a few individuals would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Even if the children stood right in front of her husband, he might not recognize them.

But this time, Du Shi underestimated Chen Ji's determination.

Chen Ji nodded, agreeing without hesitation, "Lan'er, rest assured, I will definitely send someone to find out. Don't be sad about this, or else I will truly be angry."

Although he couldn't read much from Du Shi's expression, the naturally suspicious Chen Ji had already planted the seeds of doubt in his heart. He would indeed send someone to inquire, but he hoped to hear that Mo Yan and her siblings had perished in those disasters.

...This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://www.eternalnovelhits.com

To him, the three siblings were the offspring of his beloved woman and another man. He dreamed of them being dead.

 Chapter 542: Hidden Malice (1)

Du Shi returned home deeply troubled. Learning that her husband, Chen Ji, was in the study reading, she quickly changed into a new outfit, washed her face, and refreshed herself before personally carrying the ginseng soup from the kitchen to the study.

The two attendants of Chen Ji saw Du Shi arrive and quickly bowed. The attendant on the left, with a fawning attitude, said, “Madam, the master was just asking about you!”

Normally, Du Shi would respond gently, but feeling distressed at the moment, she simply nodded at them and pushed open the slightly ajar door, walking straight in.

The study door was firmly closed behind her, leaving the attendants outside puzzled.

“What’s wrong with the Madam? Could it be that the Young Miss upset her again?” the attendant on the left asked the one on the right curiously.

The attendant on the right shook his head and replied, “The Young Miss went to the Lin residence with the master early this morning to accompany the Lin family’s young lady. How could she have upset the Madam?”

“That’s strange. The Madam’s expression seems really bad today, and she came later than usual. Did she hear some gossip and think the master is involved with someone outside?” the attendant on the left murmured.

The attendant on the right’s gaze turned stern as he admonished, “The master and the Madam have a good relationship. Don’t spread nonsense! If the master and Madam find out you’re making up such stories, you’ll be in trouble!”

The attendant on the left, feeling guilty, glanced at the study door, slapped his own mouth, and dared not say anything more.

Seeing this, the attendant on the right felt relieved. Not only was there no one outside the master, but even if there were, the Madam wouldn’t know about it.

When Du Shi entered the study with the ginseng soup, Chen Ji quickly set aside his book and stepped forward to take the tray. He frowned and chided, “How many times have I told you? Let the servants handle such chores. The soup is so hot; what if you burn yourself?”

Hearing her husband’s seemingly reproachful yet caring words, Du Shi finally managed a smile. As she uncovered the soup bowl, she said, “Carrying a bowl of soup isn’t such a big deal that I’d burn myself. Besides, if a servant brought it, would you drink it?”

In the end, Du Shi shot Chen Ji a glance and handed him the bowl of soup.

Chen Ji chuckled and took the soup, drinking it slowly. He frequently glanced at his wife, his eyes filled with tenderness.

Although Chen Ji was forty-three and had an ordinary appearance with slightly drooping eyes that gave a shrewd impression, when he looked at Du Shi, he appeared entirely different. The tenderness in his eyes made him seem exceptionally gentle, completely unlike the ruthlessness he exhibited when committing murder.

Du Shi gazed at her husband’s graying temples and touched the fine lines at the corners of her eyes, her eyes uncontrollably misting up.

Despite the stigma of abandoning her husband and being scorned by many, despite being unable to acknowledge her children, she had no regrets about leaving everything behind and unconditionally following the man before her to become his wife. Apart from not having children, he had given her everything she wanted as a woman, and she should be content. But…

Chen Ji, attentive to every movement of Du Shi, noticed her reddening eyes and anxiously set down the bowl to hold her hand, asking, “Lan’er, what’s wrong? Did someone upset you today?” His eyes, once filled with tenderness, gradually darkened with a terrifying ferocity.

Du Shi took out a handkerchief to wipe her eyes and said dejectedly, “Ji Ge, no one has wronged me. It’s just that after all these years, I’m still unable to give you a son or a daughter, and it weighs heavily on me!”