Yu Hongdou blinked as she lay on her brother’s shoulder—things weren’t unfolding as she’d expected.
In the original story, Yu Hongdou had died young, and Liu Shi had only received two slaps before having her face slashed by Xu Shi with a knife. Though despised by her in-laws and husband, Liu Shi later gave birth to a son and continued to thrive in the Yu Family.
It wasn’t until the female protagonist Tian Manman married into the family and exposed Liu Shi’s attempts to seduce the male protagonist that the eldest branch disdainfully divorced her. Subsequently, Liu Shi’s son transformed into a manipulative schemer, nearly being adopted by the male protagonist, which caused the greatest crisis in the relationship between the male and female protagonists. They only reconciled after the female protagonist became pregnant.
But now they were talking about dividing the family? And Liu Shi was being sent back to her parents’ home to await childbirth? Wasn’t this plot deviation a bit too drastic? Moreover, she, the cause of all this, had done nothing—she’d merely survived…
Yu Hongdou couldn’t make sense of it, but moving to the city was ultimately a good thing. At the very least, they could escape this cramped and dangerous small courtyard, and the Check-in Locations might become more varied too.
As the mother and her two children happily envisioned their future, they suddenly heard their second branch cousin Hu Tao scream: “What are you doing?! Someone, come quickly~”
Yu Song handed his sister to their mother and opened the door. He saw his second branch cousin blocking the livestock pen, angrily confronting Liu Yong—Liu Shi’s brother, who held a chicken in each hand—and shouting: “Liu Yong! What exactly are you trying to do?!”
“My sister is carrying the Yu Family’s first grandson. Being forced to return to her parents’ home to await childbirth is one thing, but our Liu Family shouldn’t have to raise your grandson for you! These chickens are reserved for the Yu Family’s first grandson! And that pig—my sister has always been the one tending to it. Whether it’s slaughtered or sold, my sister deserves a share when the time comes. Otherwise…” Liu Yong snorted coldly and kicked the livestock pen’s gate.
“Bullshit! Since Sister-in-law became pregnant, she’s been treated like she’s carrying a golden egg—eating and sleeping all day without even lifting a needle. Her tending to the pig? She’s probably the pig herself!” Hu Tao, the second branch’s daughter, rushed to her brother’s side with a broom, cursing at Liu Yong.
When the Liu Family initially agreed to the Yu Family’s marriage proposal, they had suggested a marriage exchange. Since the eldest branch only had one daughter, Yinxing, who was older than Liu Yong and already betrothed, they proposed Hu Tao from the second branch instead.
The eldest branch was willing, but the second branch refused. Why should their daughter be sacrificed for the eldest branch’s benefit? The second aunt took her children and stormed into the Liu Family’s home, not only arguing but also scratching the eldest aunt’s face bloody. It was only after Yu Laoyezi intervened that the matter was settled.
Yu Hongdou’s limited memories held a vivid impression of this incident, so she understood why her second branch cousins were now tense and confrontational.
In rural life, chickens and ducks were crucial assets—essential for nourishing the body, hosting guests during festivals, and supplementing household income. Even Xu Shi grew anxious now; her Hongdou still needed an egg every day.
“Sister-in-law~ Sister-in-law~” While the second branch confronted Liu Yong, Liu Shi emerged from the main room carrying a large bundle, followed by the nervous Yinxing from the eldest branch, who was sweating and wringing her hands, wanting to stop her but not daring to.
“Tsk~ Conspiring with thieves to steal from your husband’s family is considered a grave offense. The woman shall be stripped and punished with forty cane strikes, while the accomplice thief shall receive fifty cane strikes and exiled three thousand miles. The newly appointed Magistrate is looking for a typical case to make an example of.” Yu Song stood at the doorway, chin raised, glancing arrogantly at Liu Shi and her brother.
Seeing the two of them freeze in both expression and movement, Yu Song continued, “It just so happens I’ve recently joined the yamen and was worried about lacking a pledge of loyalty. I should thank my sister-in-law and the Liu family for willingly paving the way for our Yu Family.”
Liu Shi was initially startled by Yu Song, but upon noticing Xu Shi and the little maid behind him, she straightened up and shouted, “What theft! Yu Song, don’t talk nonsense! These are all my dowry!”
“Nonsense! You came empty-handed when you entered this family, even your clothes were ragged. Dowry? Aren’t you afraid your boast will split your face? Sister, could that be your dowry instead? I’ll go ask the Village Chief right now whether a sister-in-law who violates the Seven Grounds for Divorce by stealing her sister-in-law’s dowry should be directly drowned in the pond!” Hu Tao grabbed a broom and headed for the main gate.
“I’ll beat you to death, you wretched woman!” Liu Yong threw the chicken in his hands at Yu Li who was blocking him, and charged straight toward Hu Tao.
“Brother, be careful!” Yu Hongdou, held in her mother’s embrace, felt indignant seeing Liu Yong charging toward her second cousin. She thought about tripping him, but then saw Liu Yong suddenly change direction – he was actually heading for her own brother.
“I’ve been wanting to hit you for a long time!” Yu Song pushed his mother and sister into the house with one hand while throwing a punch at Liu Yong’s face with the other.
The two men began fighting amidst Liu Shi’s screams. Behind her, Yinxing grabbed the bundle hanging from Liu Shi’s arm and ran into the house.
Xu Shi placed her daughter on the kang bed, picked up scissors from the sewing basket, and rushed outside.
Yu Hongdou: …Her mother appeared weak and timid, but when trouble came, she really stepped up.
Being small and weak with good self-awareness, Yu Hongdou didn’t go outside, keeping far away from the door. She was afraid of accidentally becoming her mother and brother’s weakness. After all, this was a novel world – if the male and female protagonists were present, they might even grab her through the wall to use as a human shield!
The commotion outside didn’t last long before quieting down. Xu Shi returned panting, hair disheveled, still holding the scissors. Seeing her daughter crouching in the corner of the kang bed, she looked somewhat embarrassed. Smoothing her hair, she pretended nothing had happened as she reported their victory: “Hongdou, don’t be afraid. The bad people have been driven away by your brother and me.”
“Mother, I’m not afraid!” Yu Hongdou patted her chest to show she wasn’t frightened at all.
Xu Shi smiled with relief, stroked her daughter’s yellowish hair, found a thick jacket to put on her, and then took her daughter out of the house.
Curiously following Xu Shi outside, Yu Hongdou guessed her mother was taking her to the Village Chief’s house for the feast, but couldn’t understand why her fourth uncle (the male protagonist) and her cheap father would host a banquet at the Village Chief’s house.
[Sign-in Location: Wang Fugui’s cellar. Consume 1 Check-in Point?]
[Sign-in Location: Li Erniu’s firewood pile. Consume 1 Check-in Point?]
[Sign-in Location: Gambler Ma Laizi’s stolen goods. Consume 1 Check-in Point?]
The array of green location markers instantly overwhelmed the questions Yu Hongdou wanted to ask. As she walked, she kept looking around, her curiosity about these humble Sign-in Locations reaching sky-high levels. If she hadn’t only had precious 4 Sign-in Points, she would have definitely tried them all.
[Sign-in Location: Zhang Shan’s Private Savings Stash. Consume 1 Sign-in Point?]
[Sign-in Location: Village Chief Gao Jiaye’s Grain Storage. Consume 1 Sign-in Point?]
When passing these two sign-in points, Yu Hongdou slowed her steps. After hesitating for just a few seconds, she still proceeded with the check-in. During the process, she kept glancing at her mother repeatedly, confirming that the other person couldn’t see the check-in icon or sign-in panel at all before finally relaxing.
[Check-in Successful: Obtained 2 taels of silver.]
[Check-in Successful: Obtained 3 dou of white rice.]
It’s confirmed now – there’s a certain correlation between sign-in locations and the types of items obtained. Looking at it this way, as long as she has enough sign-in points, her future days would become much more comfortable.