Carrying Water

After finishing breakfast, Yu Li asked, "Mother, the water vat is empty. Where are the buckets so I can go fetch water?"

In this house, besides Fu Wenxiao who lay unconscious on the bed, there was only the elderly and frail Madam Chu and two young children. No one else could do heavy labor like carrying water, so the task had to fall to her.

Yu Li had already defined her status in the Fu family as a "maidservant." She knew she had to be sensible and work hard to have food to eat.

Madam Chu looked at Yu Li's slender frame and couldn't help but worry, asking, "Can you manage?"

Although she knew Yu Li had quite a bit of physical strength, seeing her thin appearance still made Madam Chu feel pity.

"Leave it be. I'll ask Dai Zhuang from next door to help carry a few loads later."

Even though she knew Yu Li had been brought to the Fu family to ward off ill fortune, Madam Chu still felt a hint of guilt in her heart.

This sense of guilt made her reluctant to force her daughter-in-law to do too much work. Aside from caring for Fu Wenxiao, she didn't make her stay as busy as she had been at the Yu house, where she had to spin around with chores all day.

"I can do it," Yu Li replied.

"My strength hasn't fully recovered yet, but carrying two buckets of water is no problem."

If this were her body from her previous life, carrying the entire water vat to the river to fill it and bringing it back wouldn't have been difficult at all. But currently, this body was too weak; she could only use buckets to fetch the water.

Madam Chu was still hesitant, but seeing Yu Li's determination, she went to get the wooden buckets and the carrying pole.

She thought to herself that if Yu Li couldn't carry the water, she would still ask Dai Zhuang for help and then give his family some beans or coarse grain as payment.

In this house, whenever they needed water, they always relied on neighbors like Dai Zhuang to help carry it.

Yu Li took the wooden buckets and the pole and left the house.

Qianshi Village had a river flowing through it. The villagers usually went to the upper reaches to fetch water, as that spot was specifically for drinking water, while other parts of the river were often used for washing clothes.

Relying on her memory, Yu Li walked to a part of the river not far from the Fu house.

By this time, the sun was high. There were quite a few people by the riverbank doing laundry—mostly married women, with only a few unmarried girls. Seeing Yu Li pass by with two wooden buckets, many eyes turned toward her, and they quickly recognized her.

Someone called out loudly, "Li-niang!"

Yu Li turned and saw it was Auntie Feng, a slightly plump woman with a face that always looked gentle. She was a neighbor of the Yu family.

Yu Li obediently responded, "Greetings, Auntie Feng."

Auntie Feng smiled and asked, "Is Li-niang going to fetch water?"

Yu Li nodded, then went to the upper reaches, filled the two buckets, and hoisted them onto her shoulders with the pole, walking with steady steps.

The people by the riverbank watched her figure as she left, continuing their work, but their mouths remained busy with gossip.

"Li-niang is truly pitiful. The Yu family really didn't act right. If something happens to Fu Wenxiao..."

"It's not surprising. Twenty taels of bride price—who wouldn't be tempted?"

"Only the second day after the wedding and she's already out fetching water. What family would have the heart to let a daughter-in-law do such heavy work? An auspicious marriage really isn't the same as a normal one."

"I think Madam Chu seems like a kind person; surely she won't be harsh on Li-niang."