Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

"Second son's wife, it's not that your father is heartless."

There's really... no other way.

You should take Erniu with you. There's still a thatched hut at the foot of the mountain at the west end of the village that people can live in. You can tidy it up when you get back.

Here's another bag of grain for you, now go!

In the end, Mr. Liu decided to give up.

When the second son dies, we'll burn down that thatched hut.

Like a camel that has been broken by the last straw, Xu collapsed to the ground.

She kept her head down, so no one could see her expression and assumed she was sad.

What they didn't know was that she was looking down because the corners of her lips were upturned, and she was secretly smiling!

Tao Yatou is right. Sure enough, the old man and his family will kick the second branch of the family out of the house and abandon them.

However, she couldn't agree so readily, otherwise it would seem too fake.

So she turned to the old man, knelt down and kowtowed, "Father, are you really going to be so heartless?"

Not only will they refuse to treat Erniu's illness, but they also want to kick my husband and me out and leave us to fend for ourselves?

Do you think we're useless to you, a burden, and that's why you're unwilling to spend money to save Erniu?

"Second sister-in-law, you can't blame Father for this. First of all, Father can't come up with that much money!"

Secondly, my second brother is a burden and a menace if he stays at home. He's a plague that could kill the whole family!

"It's better for you two to die than for your whole family to be buried with you, isn't it?"

The harsh words of the third son's wife, Zhao, spread.

"Zhao, do you even have the right to speak here?"

I was talking to Dad, why are you interrupting!

Xu angrily retorted.

The fourth son's wife, Zhao, also spoke up impatiently, "Second sister-in-law, everyone has their own destiny."

Your man has a short lifespan, who can you blame?

It's not like we caused him to get this disease.

You should take him out of here quickly, don't leave him here.

Otherwise, don't blame us for saying even harsher things.

Hurry up and leave; she doesn't want to get infected.

"The Wei family, I spit on them!"

Who do you think you are? You're the least qualified person in the whole family to kick us out.

If it weren't for raising money to support your husband, would we have to borrow money?

If it weren't for paying off debts, would my son Da Niu be working in town?

Will I catch this disease if I don't go?

Xu took the opportunity to scold her fourth son's wife.

"Father, if you don't kick those two out today, Silang and I will go back to the county town to live."

"I'm never coming back again," Wei said angrily to Old Master Liu.

Old Master Liu sighed and said to Xu, who was kneeling on the ground, "Second daughter-in-law, you saw it too, the attitude of Tianbao and the others."

A father shouldn't be too selfish, causing his other children to suffer for the sake of one son.

Anyway, Erniu's illness is incurable, so you can take him and live outside!

Spend this last period of your life with him!

Xu's eyes were cold and empty. She slowly got up, brushed the dirt off her knees, and raised her hand to tidy her disheveled hair.

Her face was covered in tears, but there was a resolute light in her eyes.

"Okay. I'll take Erniu away from the Liu family."

She said her voice was hoarse yet steady.

"But Father..."

I have three requests.

"you say!"

Xu looked straight at Old Master Liu, without her former timidity, and said, "I want to separate the family and sever ties with my relatives."

From this day forward, our branch of the family will have no further connection with the Liu family's old residence.

Also, I need fifty catties of grain and twenty taels of silver.

Otherwise, Erniu and I would rather die in the old house courtyard.

None of you will have a peaceful life.

These words were so harsh and ruthless that even Liu Sanniu and Liu Tianbao's expressions changed.

Liu Jiaojiao was so frightened that she burst into tears, grabbing the old man's sleeve and calling him "Dad."

"Dad, my second sister-in-law is so scary!"

Could she have also contracted the plague?

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Old Master Liu scolded him.

People started talking again, taking a few steps back in fear, trying to stay as far away from Xu as possible, as if she really had contracted the plague.

At this point, Liu Tianbao and Liu Sanniu whispered to each other for a while, then walked over to the old man and mumbled something to each other.

Grandpa Liu remained silent for a long time before the water pipe in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

"Fine, whatever you say!" he said, his voice sounding like it was being squeezed out between his teeth.

For the next two hours, the Liu family's old house was in complete chaos.

They found Grandpa Chen, the village head, to act as mediator, and invited two respected elders from the village to witness the division of the family property and the severance of kinship.

Xu gritted her teeth and pressed her fingerprint on the document, then took it to the woodshed and had Liu Erniu press his fingerprint on it as well.

Grandpa Liu's hand trembled several times when he pressed the button, but he still managed to press it down.

Then they went to the county government office to file the report. The village head ran errands for them, and all the procedures were completed in just two hours.

From this day forward, Liu Erniu and his wife will have no further connection with the Liu family's old house.

As the sun began to set, Xu dragged Liu Erniu out of the gate of the Liu family's old house step by step using a wide wooden plank.

There was some dry grass under the wooden board, and a worn-out mattress on top. Liu Erniu lay on it in a daze, covered with an old coat from Xu Shi.

None of his brothers came out to see him off, and Liu Jiaojiao, hiding behind the door, only glanced at him.

Only Old Master Liu stood at the entrance of the main room, watching from afar until he could no longer see the room, before turning around and going inside.

The villagers stood in twos and threes by the roadside watching. Some sighed, some shook their heads, and some secretly slipped a few copper coins into Xu's hand.

As she walked, tears streamed down her face, but her steps were steady, the wooden planks creaking as they dragged on the ground.

Tao'er followed behind, silently watching this scene.

The sorrowful, pitying, and curious gazes fell upon Madam Xu and her unconscious second uncle; no one realized that this was a carefully planned charade.

The red rash on Liu Erniu's body looked even more shocking in the setting sun.

No one expected that in just a few days, the rash would subside on its own, the high fever would subside, and his body would recover.

All she needs to do is take the antidote, which she already has.

The thatched cottage was at the foot of the mountain, nearly two miles from the village, standing alone under a few old locust trees, with no other houses around.

The house was very small, consisting of a main room and half a kitchen. Large patches of plaster had fallen off the walls, and the thatched roof was sparse.

But Xu didn't seem to mind. She dragged the wooden plank into the house, found some stones to stabilize the door, and carefully moved Liu Erniu to the broken bed in the corner of the room.

Tao helped her tidy up for a while, and then gave her a few more instructions such as "be careful when taking care of her."

Village head Grandpa Chen busied himself with the tasks, and before leaving, he secretly took out a small coarse cloth bag from his pocket and stuffed it into Xu's hand: "Take it, don't refuse."

The plague is indeed highly contagious. When you are caring for the patient, try your best to avoid infection.

Xu clutched the small bag, opened it, and saw two hundred copper coins inside. Tears welled up in her eyes again, this time for real: "Uncle Chen...you...I can't accept this money."

"Stop talking, just take the money."

Grandpa Chen waved his hand and sighed, "That's all I can do to help."

Take good care of Erniu, maybe...

Maybe he'll be lucky and suddenly get better!

He finished speaking, sighed again, and slowly walked away with his hands behind his back.

Tao'er waited until Grandpa Chen had gone far away before turning back into the thatched hut.

Xu was squatting by the bed wiping Liu Erniu's face when she heard footsteps and turned around.

Just moments ago, her face was a picture of misery from crying, but now it only showed exhaustion and a hint of barely concealed relaxation.

Tao lowered her voice, "Second Aunt, Second Uncle's condition should improve in five days at most."

Don't go out these next few days, and don't let anyone see you.

I secretly brought the food over every night.

Madam Xu nodded, then suddenly grabbed Tao'er's hand, tears welling up in her eyes again: "Tao'er... this time, we owe you so much."

If it weren't for you...

It would have been impossible if Tao Yatou and her family hadn't separated and broken off ties.

"Second Aunt, we're family, so let's not be so formal."

Tao'er grasped Xu's hand in return, smiled, and said, "It will be better from now on."

Once you're out of there, you can live your own lives. Things will only get better.

This is the antidote; you can give it to your second uncle later.

Tao'er took out a pill and handed it to her second aunt.

Madam Xu nodded emphatically and took the pills.

She raised her sleeve and wiped her face hard, then resumed her feisty and straightforward manner: "Alright, Peach Girl, you should go back now!"

To avoid arousing suspicion.

"I'm here."

When Tao'er came out of the thatched hut, dusk had completely enveloped the foot of the mountain.