Returning to the Yu Family

Fu Wenxiao curled his lips slightly. "I'm fine."

Confirming he was alright, Yu Li didn't ask further. She grabbed her clothes and went to bathe.

After bathing, she brought in a basin of clean water, intending to wipe down his body.

"No need," he declined. "I have some strength now; I can do it myself."

Hearing this, Yu Li did not force him. She handed him the washed towel and went outside to wait, her ears perked up in case anyone fell inside.

Inside was completely quiet. It wasn't until she heard Fu Wenxiao's voice that she pushed the door open and entered. Seeing that he had finished, she took the basin out to clean up, then blew out the oil lamp and climbed onto the bed.

Fu Wenxiao was weak, and not long after lying down, he fell fast asleep. Her presence beside him did not distract him at all.

The two spent a peaceful night together. If he hadn't been awakened in the middle of the night, it would have been a truly quiet night.

The next morning, Yu Li woke up early.

After breakfast, she went to the riverbank to fetch water. Once she filled the water jar, she spoke to Madame Chu and left the Fu family home.

Fu Wenxiao woke up late.

When Madame Chu brought him water to wash his face, she mentioned that Yu Li had gone out.

"Where did she go?" he asked.

"I don't know, Li-niang didn't say."

Madame Chu was not a harsh mother-in-law who forced her daughter-in-law to stay home to learn rules. There wasn't much work to do at home anyway, so she didn't mind Yu Li going out.

In the countryside, unlike the city with its strict rules, she had seen many girls working hard to make a living. She never believed a woman had to stay locked indoors just because she was married.

Fu Wenxiao looked out the window. The brilliant morning glow shone down on the yard, illuminating every blade of grass and branch; everything was full of vitality.

That vitality was just like the girl named Yu Li.

She was like a blade of grass, a small flower, simple yet resilient in this rural courtyard.

In her eyes sparkled a wild vitality. Bright and captivating.

Yu Li hadn't gone anywhere else; she was returning to the Yu family home.

Last night, before leaving, she had made it clear that from now on, she would return to her mother's house every day.

Why return? Naturally, to freeload meals. Otherwise, with her monstrous appetite, the Fu family would certainly not be able to afford to feed her.

Perhaps because yesterday was the first time she didn't have to hold back, she had eaten until she was eighty percent full. Waking up this morning, Yu Li could clearly feel that her body's discomfort had lessened significantly.

She suddenly had an epiphany.

So all this time, her body had been uncomfortable simply because she hadn't eaten her fill! Realizing this was the cause of her physical discomfort, Yu Li decided she must eat a bit more from now on.

At the Fu house, she was embarrassed to eat too much, fearing she would terrify Madame Chu and the others. Thus, returning to her mother's house to eat was only logical. After all, they were already well-accustomed to her appetite and would certainly not be frightened anymore.

Yu Li headed straight for the Yu family home, meeting no one along the way.

At this time, the sun was not too harsh, and most people were busy in the fields.

When she arrived at the gate of the Yu family home, she saw that the courtyard wall that had collapsed yesterday had been patched up with several bundles of firewood to block any prying eyes.

Yu Li glanced at it and walked to the main gate, only to find it locked from the inside.

In the countryside, when the owners were home, the gate was usually left unlocked so neighbors could easily drop by. Now that it was suddenly locked, one didn't even need to think to know why.

Yu Li pushed hard with her hand, and the gate burst open, the lock inside snapping instantly.

Hearing the noise, Yu Jin and her sisters immediately poked their heads out, only to see Yu Li walking in grandly.

"Eldest Sister!" the three younger sisters cried out in joy, running toward her.

Yu Li looked around and saw only her three younger sisters at home, so she asked, "Where is everyone else?"

She assessed her three younger sisters and noticed that their spirits were quite good today. It seemed that after she left last night, the Yu family had not made things difficult for the Second Branch.

That made sense. Having just been threatened, and not pushed too far yet, no one would dare to do anything to them for the time being.