The next day, a residential alley began to bustle with activity. One household opened their door, and a couple brought out low stools to sit at their doorway, cracking sunflower seeds.

“You dead fool, yesterday you kept stopping me from talking. Why didn’t you ask clearly which residence our little sister-in-law works at? What if she doesn’t come anymore? How will our whole family manage?” The woman reached out and pinched the man.

The man waved away her hand and sneered coldly: “Stop thinking nonsense. Mother is ill – how could little sister not come? I’m telling you, when little sister is here, you’d better pay more attention to mother!”

“I know, you don’t need to tell me.” The woman impatiently spat out sunflower seed shells.

“She’s coming!” The man stood up.

The woman hurriedly put away the basket holding sunflower seeds, dusted off her dress, and went forward to greet them.

“Little sister-in-law, you’re here?” The woman’s face was full of smiles as she welcomed A’Zhu inside, glancing at Chen Guang standing by the pomegranate tree in the courtyard and winking suggestively. “That one is—”

Meeting A’Zhu’s cold expression, A’Zhu’s sister-in-law swallowed her teasing words, though her heart was filled with envy over A’Zhu’s good fortune.

A yellow-haired girl who wasn’t even as pretty as herself – why should she get to enjoy fine food and drink following a noble family’s young lady, and even catch such a handsome young man?

This world was truly unfair!

A’Zhu’s sister-in-law felt indignant in her heart, but showed none of it on her face, politely welcoming A’Zhu inside.

A’Zhu first went to see her old mother, taking out a handkerchief and dampening it with hot water to wipe her mother’s face and hands, then went to the main room to talk.

“Little sister-in-law, look at our family’s current situation. Mother is ill, your eldest brother can’t find proper work, and the two children are at the age when they’re growing. This can’t go on like this.” After exchanging pleasantries, A’Zhu’s sister-in-law let out a long sigh.

“I wonder what plans the eldest brother and sister-in-law have?”

A’Zhu’s sister-in-law wiped her hands on her shirt and handed A’Zhu a cup of tea: “Little sister-in-law, why don’t you plead with your young lady to let sister-in-law and your brother work at your residence? This way our family would have long-term livelihood and wouldn’t always have to rely on you.”

A’Zhu smiled. Seeing her brother looking at her with the same hopeful expression, she said indifferently, “It’s good that the sister-in-law thinks this way. A family should indeed have a long-term livelihood, but my master’s household has few people and doesn’t need so many servants. I think this – whatever small business eldest brother and sister-in-law want to do, I’ll provide the capital.”

A’Zhu’s brother and sister-in-law hadn’t expected A’Zhu to say this and couldn’t help but look at each other.

After a long while, A’Zhu’s sister-in-law finally said: “Your brother and I don’t have any skills and can’t think of what small business to do. It’s better to let us work at your master’s residence. That way we’d get monthly wages on time and wouldn’t have to worry about anything.”

“I already said my master’s family isn’t wealthy and doesn’t need so many people. If the eldest brother and sister-in-law can’t think of what to do for now, then take your time thinking. I should go back to serve my young lady first. It’s not good for us maids to keep taking leave.” A’Zhu stood up expressionlessly.

A’Zhu’s brother hurriedly stopped her: “Little sister, don’t go! We’ll listen to you and do a small business.”

“What does the eldest brother plan to do?”

“I used to slaughter pigs, so I’ll stick to the old trade.”

For ordinary common people, selling pork was considered a good way out. Not only did it bring in more money than farming, but leftover meat bones and pig innards could provide occasional treats. The only downside was the large capital investment needed, but with little sister around, this wasn’t a problem anymore.

A’Zhu’s brother became happier the more he thought about it.

A’Zhu secretly breathed a sigh of relief seeing her brother willing to return to his old trade.

With silver in hand, A’Zhu’s brother and sister-in-law’s pork stall was quickly set up. The old mother’s illness also began to improve, and before long she could even get out of bed.

A’Zhu felt half her worries were lifted, but it wasn’t long before trouble arose: A’Zhu’s brother got into a conflict with someone at a neighboring stall and had his leg broken by them.

“Wah wah wah, just when life was finally settling down, how could such a thing happen? That damned bastard! Little sister-in-law, you must get justice for your eldest brother. You can’t let him be bullied for nothing.”

Listening to her sister-in-law’s crying, A’Zhu felt extremely annoyed: “Sister-in-law, stop crying. The person who injured eldest brother will be handled by the authorities. What’s important now is eldest brother’s injury.”

A’Zhu’s sister-in-law wailed tearfully: “Little sister-in-law, your eldest brother’s leg is broken, and the pork stall can’t continue. Without your eldest brother there, I’m just a woman, and it’s not proper for me to show my face doing business outside. How will this whole family survive? Please help us – let sister-in-law get a position at your master’s residence. Wah wah wah, if your brother and I had gone to your residence back then, your brother wouldn’t have broken his leg…”

“Cough cough cough—” A’Zhu’s mother’s coughing came from inside.

A’Zhu gently patted her old mother’s back, but was grabbed by the hand: “Juan’er, just agree to your sister-in-law’s request. You can’t just watch the whole family starve to death, can you? Cough cough cough—”

A’Zhu lowered her eyelids: “Let me think about it more.”

After returning to the Li Residence, A’Zhu was heavy with worry, staring out the window in a daze.

Binglu patted her from behind: “A’Zhu, what are you daydreaming about?”

A’Zhu came back to her senses, lowering her eyes to hide the moisture in them, and said softly: “Is there something? Does the young lady have any instructions?”

Binglu looked at A’Zhu suspiciously: “The young lady has nothing urgent, but what’s wrong with you lately? You keep spacing out.”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“How can nothing be wrong? Ever since your brother came looking for you, I haven’t seen you smile once. Wait here, I’m going to tell the young lady.”

“Binglu, don’t go—”

But Binglu ignored A’Zhu and ran off like the wind.

Qiao Zhao called A’Zhu over and said gently: “A’Zhu, I told you before – if you have any difficulties, tell me.”

Seeing A’Zhu remain silent, Qiao Zhao sighed: “I heard from Chen Guang that your eldest brother had his leg broken by someone.”

A’Zhu’s expression changed slightly.

She had originally asked Chen Guang not to tell the young lady about this. When Chen Guang hadn’t responded at the time, she thought he had agreed, but unexpectedly—

Chen Guang in the distance: So it’s best not to respond when encountering such situations – it allows for both advance and retreat. The General had specifically instructed that nothing should be hidden from Third Miss.

“Have you thought of a good solution these past two days?”

A’Zhu bit her lip and lowered her head: “My eldest brother had an accident, so the small business can’t continue. They’re outsiders, and ordinary families won’t hire them. I was thinking—”

A’Zhu hesitated for a moment, then finally made up her mind: “I want to ask the young lady to arrange some work for my sister-in-law…”

Seeing A’Zhu’s face turn completely red before she even finished speaking, Qiao Zhao sighed inwardly and smiled warmly: “I’ll speak with mother. The household has just added new members and indeed needs more help.”

The residents truly did need help, but they dared not use people whose backgrounds were unknown. As the future wife of Marquis Guanjun, during such sensitive times, she had to be extra cautious about everything.

Thinking of this, Qiao Zhao curved her lips slightly.

If A’Zhu’s family members were simply seeking refuge with relatives, she would treat it as doing A’Zhu a favor. But if they had other motives, she might as well keep them close to observe.