Chapter 007: Awakening from a Dream

"You dead girl, take out the things!" Liu Qingniang said, hands on her hips, coldly extending her hand towards her

A strong pain surged from the depths of her heart, gradually engulfing her, pressing down on her until she could hardly breathe

Liu Qingniang paused for a moment, initially intending to respond with a few words. However, after a moment's thought, she decided against it and simply asked, "How much did the Wang family pay for the consultation fee?"

This jade is certainly worth a considerable amount of silver!" Rulan couldn't help but interject

"It doesn't matter, a horse is also a life." Yan Huaimin smiled faintly

"Mother, what are you doing in my room so late?" As Luan rubbed her eyes, she looked at Liu Qingniang, who had suddenly appeared at the head of the bed, with a face full of surprise

Yan Huai-min's expression was dark, his lips pressed together as he walked past her towards the inner hall

Yuyue was startled, nearly jumping up in fright, her legs weak and unable to support her own weight. She reached out to brace herself against the tree trunk, opened her mouth, but could not make a sound

With a soft creak, the light in the orchid room was turned on

Like jade, she gently leaned against the wall and slowly walked out of the room

"Ten taels." Yan Huaimin hesitated for a moment, reluctantly replied, and handed the silver to her.

"Qing Niang!" Yan Huai Min shouted sternly

"Is there any need for you to say that?" Liu Qingniang snorted coldly and put away the jade. "That robe was sold for five hundred taels of silver. Tomorrow, find an opportunity to sell this jade as well, and it will serve as your dowry. Ah, keep your mouth shut and don't let out a word, understand?"

"You still pretend, I have seen it all!" Liu Qingniang curled her finger and tapped it sharply on her head: "How dare you hide such a wild man's thing?"

"Alright, didn't I already go?" Yan Huaimin interrupted her impatiently

The sound of the pharmacy door closing echoed from afar

"Yuer, Erniang cannot read, so do not hold it against her." Yan Huaimin sighed softly

Liu Qingniang let out a cold snort, and only then did she move the lamp over to examine it closely

Oh, Liu Qingniang is unhappy, she elongated her voice and said: "On such a late night, who are you showing this face to?"

Ugh! She shivered and spat softly, saying: "This beast is indeed sinister! Of all things to carve, it had to be the head of a wolf!"

Alright, you should go to bed early

Yuer?" Yan Huaimin was taken aback, walked over and held her hand: "How did you come out?"

Mother..." As she spoke, Ruan's face turned crimson, and feeling guilty, she hugged her head and shrank her shoulders, saying, "I was just admiring that piece of jade because it looks beautiful..."

On a night in early summer, the wind still carries a hint of chill that penetrates the skin. A few stars twinkle faintly in the sky, and a crescent moon casts a gentle silver glow.

The craftsmanship of the jade carving is exceptionally delicate, with every detail vividly rendered. Not only does it depict the appearance of the wolf in a lifelike manner, but it also conveys its greedy and bloodthirsty essence with remarkable clarity

Oh, indeed, it is a wealthy family; their generosity is extraordinary. The medical fee for a single horse exceeds that of a hundred or eighty villagers. Liu Qingniang was so pleased that her brows and eyes were filled with joy

Yan Huaimin's body stiffened slightly, and he replied淡淡地: "It is done"

She walked hurriedly and did not notice the jade-like figure sitting under the tree

Father, have you really gone to treat the horse

Father, I am sorry

How can you bear to see your aging father carry the burden of humiliation and sorrow for you

"Oh, feeling sorry?" Liu Qingniang sneered, "If you truly cared for your father, you should have listened to your stepmother earlier. While you are still young and have suitors, you should find someone to marry. During the festive seasons, you could bring him some gifts to show your filial piety! Stop fixating on that one thousand taels of silver; I would be grateful just for that!"

Father... under the tree, Ruyu could no longer hold back and shed tears

Mother, I can no longer dare..." With a sense of helplessness, Rulan had no choice but to obediently take off the jade pendant from her neck and hand it over.

"You dead thing, do you still dare to talk back?" Liu Qingniang leaned in, pretending to twist her mouth, "If your father finds out, won't he break your hands?"

Mother..." As she pouted in dissatisfaction, Ruan Lan said, "Do you think I am foolish?"

Oh, Yan Ruyu, how can you remain so immersed in your own sorrow for such a long time, without seeing the pain of your loved ones?

Father... Yuer is unfilial..." As she spoke, Yuer wept inconsolably.

That is a piece of exquisite Hetian jade, with a pure and vibrant color, and a smooth, warm touch. What is most remarkable is that the carving on it depicts a majestic silver wolf.

"Really?" Liu Qingniang's eyes lit up, and she walked over with a beaming smile: "That's right! Times have changed; Yu'er is no longer just the wife of a deputy general. We cannot rely on her. Not only can we not depend on her, but we also have to serve her with good medicine, good tea, and good meals every day. When will this end? In these chaotic times, the price of medicinal materials has increased several times. She does not understand our difficulties and still expects us to repay the one thousand taels of betrothal gifts. If the master continues to be stubborn, our Yan family will truly have to rely on the northwest wind..."

As Yu let out a sigh, he pressed his hand against his chest and slowly sat down

What? Rulan felt a sudden chill in her heart and forced herself to play dumb

"I could die; how dare you bring it so close!" Liu Qingniang's expression changed, and she made a move as if to strike.

"Hey," Yan Huai-min gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder and quietly slipped a piece of broken silver into her hand. "Take this, and don't let Second Mother see it. There are still three years left, right? Don't worry, you just focus on recovering. Everything will be fine, you have your father here!"

Father... looking at the sudden increase of white hair at Yan Huai and Tu Shu Min's temples, he suddenly realized that she had done something wrong, and as if jade, she cried and collapsed into his arms

Mother..." As Ruan hurriedly raised her hand to protect her head, she shouted with a strained throat, "Ruan'er knows she was wrong..."

His father is a doctor, not a veterinarian

"Father has returned." Ru Lan's expression changed.

Liu Qingniang blew out the lamp in one breath, twisted her waist, and stepped out of the room. She hurried through the small courtyard to greet him, reaching out to take his medicine box: "My lord, you have returned? Were you able to accomplish the task?"

"Who?" A startled cry like that of a startled orchid rang out.

She leaned against the locust tree, slightly tilting her head back, gazing at the distant mountains that appeared with gray-black outlines under the moonlight, feeling a sense of bewilderment in her heart—she seemed to have merely taken a nap, yet the outside world had already returned to spring without wings, vanished without a trace

"What are you shouting about? It's me!" Liu Qingniang timely reprimanded, dispelling the fear of the two sisters inside and outside the room

"Fine, if you find my words unpleasant, I shall take my leave, shall I not?" Liu Qingniang tucked the silver into her bosom and coldly entered the room

A familiar faint medicinal fragrance wafts through the air

Otherwise, why would she go to the trouble of hiding it