Chapter 74 Am I loyal enough?

Xu Wangcai and his wife tried several times to bring some living expenses over, but Chen Shuxiang and her husband politely declined each time.

Left with no other choice, they could only occasionally have Xu Damao bring over some rare foods from the Lou family, their master's house.

Originally, it was a gift from the apprentice to his master, but He Daqing declined it twice. When Xu Damao brought it again, he didn't refuse it anymore, otherwise it would seem too distant.

Chen Shuxiang then asked, "So, your master's wife is asking you, do you know where your brother Zhuzi's money comes from?"

"From...from bad guys..." Xu Damao blurted out subconsciously, then quickly covered his mouth and backed away.

This was a secret between him and Brother Zhu, who had repeatedly told him never to tell anyone.

He was afraid that if he told anyone, Brother Zhu would never play with him again.

Unexpectedly, Chen Shuxiang grabbed his ear and said, "You brat, you dare disobey me now? Tell me the truth!"

Xu Damao shook his head desperately, but his ears were being pulled tightly. The harder he struggled, the more painful it became, and tears welled up in his eyes instantly.

Seeing his pitiful appearance with tears welling up in his eyes from the pain, Chen Shuxiang's heart softened, and she let go of his hand.

Xu Damao blinked a few times, then turned and ran away in a flash.

Chen Shuxiang was taken aback by his sudden action, then laughed and scolded, "These two rascals, one after another!"

She already had a guess in her mind: "If the brat said it wasn't stolen, then it must have been snatched from those bad guys."

It seems I absolutely cannot let Zhuzi take Da Mao with him when he goes out anymore. If something really happens, I won't be able to explain it to the Xu family. I'll have to have a serious talk with Zhuzi about this later.”

Xu Damao ran into the kitchen and immediately recounted everything that had just happened, looking quite pleased with himself as he said, "Brother Zhu, wasn't I loyal enough?"

He Yuzhu smiled, raised his hand, and lightly flicked him on the forehead.

Seeing that Xu Damao's eyes were about to redden and tears were about to fall, she quickly took out two pieces of milk candy from her spatial storage and handed them to him.

"Hey, it's milk candy! Brother Zhu, where did you get this? I've never had it before in my life!" Xu Damao's eyes lit up.

"You actually recognize this as milk candy?" He Yuzhu was somewhat surprised.

"I've been to the host's house with my mother before, and I've seen him there," Xu Damao said with a smug look on his face.

"Have you tried it before?" He Yuzhu asked the key question directly.

"No... such precious and rare things are not for us servants to eat." Xu Damao immediately wilted.

He has become much more sensible now, and when he recalls the way his mother bowed and scraped when he went to the Lou family with her, he can't help but feel a pang of sadness.

"Forget about being a servant or not. From now on, everyone will be able to eat, and everyone will be equal."

He Yuzhu reached out and gently patted his little head, then took a piece of milk candy from his hand, unwrapped it, and stuffed it directly into his mouth.

"Sweet! Brother Zhu, it's really sweet, and it has a strong milky aroma!" Xu Damao squinted his eyes.

"If it doesn't have a milky flavor, can it still be called milk candy?" He Yuzhu laughed.

"Hehe, I'll take this one for my teacher's wife to try. She's probably never had one before either." Xu Damao held up another piece of candy.

"Go ahead, when you get home tonight I'll give you a few more pieces so your mother can have a good taste too."

"Thank you, Brother Zhu!" Xu Damao jumped up and down with joy, hugged He Yuzhu, rubbed his little head against him affectionately, and then ran excitedly into the inner room with the candy in his hand.

"Master's wife, Master's wife, I've brought you something delicious!"

Chen Shuxiang looked at the candy in his hand and asked, "Where did this candy come from?"

"It was given to me by Brother Zhuzi," Xu Damao answered truthfully.

"Keep what he gave you for yourself and eat it slowly. Your teacher's wife won't eat it." Chen Shuxiang waved her hand.

"Master's wife, this candy is so sweet, and it has a rich milky aroma. You've probably never had it before, so please try a piece."

Xu Damao carefully peeled off the candy wrapper and handed it over, mimicking He Yuzhu's earlier actions.

Looking at Xu Damao's earnest and sincere eyes, Chen Shuxiang couldn't help but laugh: "Okay, Master's wife will eat it. Master's wife wants to taste just how delicious this candy you're talking about really is."

She lowered her head slightly, and Xu Damao immediately and gently put the candy into her mouth.

"Master's wife, is it sweet?"

"Sweet." Chen Shuxiang felt a sweet taste in her mouth and a warm feeling in her heart.

Xu Damao chuckled foolishly, then turned and skipped away.

"This child is still so impulsive... but this candy is indeed quite delicious."

With the candy in her mouth, Chen Shuxiang couldn't get any information about anything else, so she naturally didn't know where the candy came from, and she decided not to ask any further questions.

When it was lunchtime, the old lady who had been picked up asked what had happened at the Central Courtyard.

She had heard some noise ahead, but the snow outside had frozen the ground hard, so she didn't dare to come over on her own.

"Grandma, that Zhang Ruhua is a real scoundrel. Your eldest grandson went out to get some food and came back, and she accused him of stealing it," Chen Shuxiang explained.

"Did you two suffer any losses?" the old lady asked with concern.

"How could that be? Dealing with a village woman like that is a piece of cake," Chen Shuxiang said casually.

"You didn't show your true skills, did you?" the old lady asked in a low voice.

"No, Zhu Zi just asked about it. He said he'd go back to the village when things are more peaceful, maybe some people will have already gone back," Chen Shuxiang said.

"This child... is such a filial and good child!" the old lady exclaimed.

"She's much more sensible than before. Before, she just ate and played around, and she had a stubborn and reckless temper." Chen Shuxiang said with a sense of relief.

"You must never say this in front of the child," the old lady warned.

"How could that be? I was just chatting with you privately," Chen Shuxiang said with a smile.

"You know what's going on in your heart. Zhu Zi isn't the same as before. You have to treat him like an adult," the old lady said earnestly.

"I understand." Chen Shuxiang nodded.

"By the way, the Jia family has been causing trouble again and again. Why don't we just kick them out?" the old lady said, glaring fiercely in the direction of the Jia family.

"Even a cornered dog will jump over a wall. That Zhang Ruhua is a mangy dog. It's not worth getting bitten by her!" Chen Shuxiang said with some concern.

"We can't just let it go like that. Renting the west wing to them is too cheap for them. I, the old lady, will stand up for you."

"Let them move to the front wing, and make room for my eldest grandson in the west wing. That tiny side room is no good for my eldest grandson." The old lady said firmly.

"Grandma, this is unacceptable. Zhuzi is so young, and our family has already taken over your main room," Chen Shuxiang quickly declined.

"What's wrong with that? If this were in the past, you would be the proper masters, and Zhu Zi should be living in the east wing." The old lady said dismissively.

"Will Zhang Ruhua agree?" Chen Shuxiang asked.

"Whether they agree or not, we have to move. I'll have Daqing call Jia Laonian over tonight. If they refuse to move, I'm not renting this house anymore. I don't care about their pittance in rent." The old lady's attitude was firm.

"Alright, when Daqing returns, we'll have him go and talk to Jia Laonian. The Jia family has moved to the first courtyard, so the middle courtyard will be much quieter." Chen Shuxiang thought about it and agreed.

"That's right. People who are kind are often bullied. It's good enough if we don't bully others."

"If we don't teach people a lesson when they've been bullied, they'll only be looked down upon even more in the future," the old woman concluded.

"Yes, I've got it, ma'am," Chen Shuxiang replied earnestly.

In fact, the moment the old lady stepped into the central courtyard, she was seen by Jia Zhangshi, who was peering through the window.

She was restless and uneasy all afternoon, fearing that the old lady would come to cause trouble again.

Only after the old lady was taken back to the backyard did Madam Jia finally breathe a long sigh of relief.

But then, she couldn't help but curse inwardly:

"That old geezer almost scared me to death... There's not a single good person in the He family!"

Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she immediately turned to her son and instructed him:

"Dongxu, from today onwards, you keep a close eye on that kid from the He family."

As soon as he leaves the house, quietly follow him, and when you come back, tell me where he went.

"Mom, it's so unsafe outside right now... I'm too scared to go."

"Why are you so timid and cowardly! You're four years older than that idiot!"

In two more years, you'll be able to go out and earn money. If others dare to go, why don't you?

Looking at her son's timid and cowardly appearance, Jia Zhangshi grew increasingly furious.

He raised his hand and gave him a solid slap on the neck.

"Doesn't that mean we'll have to wait another two years before we can start working...?"

Are you going or not?

Jia Zhangshi's eyes widened suddenly, and she instinctively grabbed the broom handle next to her.

"Mother, Mother, please don't hit me! I'll go, I'll go, okay?!"

"Hmph, you don't need to do anything else, just obediently follow him."

"Once we get our share, Mom will buy you meat to eat."

"What good would it do to follow that idiot?"

Jia Dongxu muttered something under his breath.

"You don't know anything!"

"Your mother told you to come along, so just do as she says!"

As she spoke, Jia Zhangshi raised the broom handle high.

"Oh……"

Jia Dongxu reluctantly agreed.

"Don't look so dead."

Just do as your mother says.

"Maybe I can even get you money for your future wedding and a house."

Seeing that her son was still unwilling, Madam Jia immediately offered this huge temptation.

"Mom, you're not lying to me, are you?"

"Following that idiot, can I really get a house and a wife?"

"Get the hell out of here!"

I'm talking about the house and the money for getting married!

He's not even fully grown yet, and he's already thinking about women all the time?

I'll make you think! I'll make you think!

This time, Jia Zhangshi showed no mercy and lashed out with a broom handle.