Zhou Shi was momentarily surprised by Chen Yousong’s words, then her mood relaxed a bit.
Take this “stubborn girl” away? Well, of course that was fine!
If it were before, she might have been genuinely reluctant—after all, she had raised the girl this far. Li Shu was strong and capable; at least she could serve as a useful hand around the house.
But ever since she returned from prison, she had been like someone possessed.
She ate but didn’t work, talked back, and caused trouble, all while her husband and eldest son indulged her. Zhou Shi was truly exasperated.
“Fine! You said it yourself. Don’t ever claim in the future that it’s me, her stepmother, who couldn’t bear her and kicked her out!” Zhou Shi gave up pretending. She turned to Li Shu: “Alì, you’ve heard him. Your uncle is acting in your best interest. He wants to take you away. Back then he arranged that marriage with the Ma family, and in the future he can find you an even better match. I only let you go so as not to ruin your path…”
Chen Yousong snorted. He had no patience for people like Zhou Shi.
“Alì, go pack your things. Your uncle will take you away,” Chen Yousong commanded immediately.
Li Shu hesitated for a moment, considering.
Since entering this body, the memories made her feel as if she had lived the life of the original owner, so she felt no resistance toward this uncle.
The original uncle was an ordinary man.
He had no extraordinary martial skills, wasn’t a high-ranking officer, not even a centurion. Near forty, he was still a common soldier.
The Chen family were a military household, generation after generation since the founding of the dynasty.
In other regions, such a status might be considered low, but here, on the frontier, military households were common. Only daughters of commoners avoided marrying soldiers; otherwise, there were no real restrictions.
The original girl’s mother had been fairly beautiful. The Chen family had worked hard to marry her into a household like the Li family, even though Li Chutian was not a perfect man. This marriage ensured that their descendants wouldn’t be forced into the battlefield.
Yet the girl’s mother died young after giving birth.
Chen Yousong, as an uncle, had always been compassionate.
Whenever he got leave, he visited, used his modest income to support his family, and even bought small things for the girl.
His only real mistake had been arranging the marriage with the Ma family—but even that was a well-intentioned mishap.
The original girl had always admired her cousins, envying their freedom, the lack of ridicule or scolding at home. Visits to their house were a delight she remembered fondly.
Yet Li Shu was not the original girl.
She could play the obedient child occasionally, but if she had to constantly act humble, it would exhaust her.
The Chen family was kind, but Li Shu had no intention of living with them.
She wanted her own home, her own wealth, her own life.
Now she couldn’t have it—but it wouldn’t be long.
Finally, Li Shu spoke: “Uncle, even if I go with you to the Chen household, my registration won’t change. If anything were to happen, you couldn’t help me. You’d only have to worry about providing for me. I won’t trouble you.”
“Alì! Are you worried your aunt won’t like it? Don’t overthink it. Your aunt is kind and understands your situation; she won’t refuse you!” Chen Yousong hurriedly reassured.
Li Shu knew the aunt was indeed kind. She might be cold in appearance but never petty. When her cousins came to support her, it was with the aunt’s consent.
The original girl had been oppressed so much she dared not resist, which had caused the distance.
“It’s not about my aunt. I just don’t want to make you work harder,” Li Shu replied politely.
She didn’t want to leave—she hadn’t yet dealt with Li Lingsheng.
If she left, Zhou Shi would enjoy her day in peace, and Li Shu could not bear to let that happen.
Chen Yousong observed Li Shu. She seemed different now—her voice was stronger, her head no longer bowed, polite yet distant.
The little girl had once hidden light in her eyes when she saw him. Now, she was calm.
Perhaps it was because of what he said two years ago.
“Alì, if I hadn’t arranged that marriage with the Ma family, you wouldn’t have been sent to the wrong household. Back then I said some harsh words, and that was my fault. Your grievances are understandable. But you were young and naive; at your age, a bride with no one to protect her could be taken advantage of in marriage…” Chen Yousong’s expression was anxious.
He almost wanted to say outright that Li Chutian and his wife might sell her off.
Many men, indifferent to women’s rights, preyed on such girls, paying a little silver and marrying them off, and no one would care if she suffered.
Zhou Shi shot Chen Yousong a glare, crossed her arms, and impatiently signaled for the neighbors to disperse.
“Don’t worry about household registration. Though you won’t be formally adopted, I will speak to your father, and the Li family will sign an agreement to place you in my household. Your father will have no say over your future marriage. I’ve brought twenty taels of silver to negotiate; he won’t refuse,” Chen Yousong had already made up his mind.
Li Shu was surprised. Twenty taels of silver was no small sum.
Frontier soldiers earned well, but even with subsidies, twenty taels barely covered a year’s household expenses and medical needs. Armor or weapons repair often came from personal funds.
The Chen family were ordinary folk, not wealthy.
That he could immediately offer twenty taels to negotiate with Li Chutian showed his genuine care.