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A few wisps of smoke rose from the village in the distance, and the faint sound of dogs barking could be heard.

She walked back along the path between the fields, the evening breeze caressing her face, carrying the scent of earth and grass.

She walked very fast and soon arrived at her doorstep.

When they pushed open their own courtyard gate, Zhang was pacing back and forth in the kitchen, while Xiuxiu sat on the threshold with Shiliu in her arms, looking around.

As soon as Tao'er returned, Zhang rushed over to greet her: "How was it?"

How is your second uncle?

Liu Daniu also came out of the house, his face full of anxiety.

Tao'er closed the door and led her parents and cousins ​​into the house.

"Father and Mother, don't worry, Second Uncle is fine. They have moved to a thatched hut at the foot of the mountain."

I have already given my second uncle the antidote, and he will be able to return to normal in a few days.

However, my second uncle looks a bit scary now.

To avoid arousing suspicion, you'd better not go and see them.

"Xiuxiu and Shiliu should go before dark."

"It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright."

"You have no idea what your dad heard from those villagers; it was terrifying. It made us all very worried."

Mrs. Xu patted her chest, feeling a wave of lingering fear.

"you do not say!

Aunt Li said your second uncle is almost dead.

Liu Erniu echoed this sentiment.

"Sister Tao'er, is my father really alright?"

My sister and I found what those uncles and aunts were saying terrifying. I wanted to go see for myself, but my sister stopped me from going.

Shi Liu looked scared and nervous.

Tao'er shook her head. "Shiliu, your father is perfectly fine. Your older sister was right to stop you from going."

Otherwise, if you expose a flaw, wouldn't your mother's performance today be in vain?

All the suffering your father endured was for nothing.

"I'm sorry, Sister Tao'er, I was wrong!"

I promise I won't do it again next time.

Shiliu thought to herself that it was a good thing she didn't go, otherwise she would have ruined Tao'er's plans.

"Father, Mother, Shiliu, I told you Second Uncle was alright, but you didn't believe me."

My younger sister already said that she gave my second uncle medicine, so he doesn't really have the plague.

Now you should believe me, right?

Liu Tiezhu had just finished feeding the mules grass in the backyard when he came over and heard what they were saying.

"We were worrying for nothing."

By the way, Peach Girl, what was Old Master Liu's attitude?

Have they agreed to separate the family property?

The most important thing that Xu thought of was whether the second branch of the family could successfully separate.

"Mother, it's done. Second Uncle and Second Aunt have separated from the old house and severed all ties with them. They're completely cut off from that side now."

Once my second uncle recovers in a few days, they'll be able to go back to their normal lives.

Mother, you have no idea how good my second aunt is at acting; she cried so miserably!

If I didn't know the truth, I would have believed it.

Tao'er recounted in detail how her second aunt begged the old man to save her second uncle, and how she demanded to be kicked out and have the family divided and sever ties with him.

Liu Daniu was stunned for a long time after hearing this, then suddenly slapped his thigh hard, his eyes reddening slightly: "Good! Good!"

The second brother finally... finally crawled out of that wolf's den!

Over the years, he had been exploited and humiliated by the Liu family, and he had so many grievances he couldn't express. The only person in the old house who was kind to him was his second brother.

Now that my second brother is also free, how can I not be happy?

Zhang clasped her hands together and muttered: "Finally, we've separated them."

The happiest one was Xiuxiu. The little girl jumped up from the threshold and tugged at Tao'er's sleeve, jumping several times: "Sister Tao'er, thank you!"

Our family has finally moved out of the old house!

Tao'er smiled and ruffled Shiliu's hair: "Yes, when your parents build a new house, you two sisters can go back and live with them."

"Peach Girl, you just said that your second aunt not only asked for fifty catties of grain, but also for twenty taels of silver?"

How is that possible?

Will Grandpa Liu agree?

Even if he agreed, the third and fourth sons of the Liu family, along with Liu Jiaojiao and the others, would never agree!

Zhang Su'e found it unbelievable.

"Mother, that would be impossible under normal circumstances."

But my second aunt was clever. She made a firm statement: if they didn't agree, she wouldn't leave and would stay with my second uncle in the old house.

Even if I die, I want to die in the old house.

The old man and those ungrateful wretches were terrified and immediately agreed.

After all, twenty taels of silver are nothing compared to life.

Tao'er smiled and explained to her mother.

"So that's how it is. No wonder they agreed so readily."

As expected, they were all afraid of dying.

"But isn't it too simple for your second uncle and the others to live in that thatched hut?"

At this point, Zhang Su'e turned to instruct her son.

"Wait until it gets a little darker, then have Xiuxiu and Shiliu deliver something over there."

Tiezhu, you and your second brother can help deliver it over there.

Blankets and other things, and some other food.

"Mother, I understand."

Liu Tiezhu nodded.

"Mother, send some soup over to Second Uncle and the others later. Second Uncle has suffered a bit this time and needs to be nourished."

I'll also send over a few more doses of medicine; you can have your second aunt brew them for your second uncle.

Drink it three times a day.

After finishing speaking, Tao'er patted her stomach. "Mother, don't just stand there talking. I'm hungry. Is dinner ready yet?"

"It's ready, I'm just waiting for you!"

Zhang Su'e quickly pulled her daughter to the main room.

Then Xiuxiu and her sister invited Old Xu and the others over for dinner.

After dinner, Tao'er handed the prepared medicine to her eldest brother.

Zhang Su'e then gave some more items to Xiuxiu and her sister.

After all, the second son and his wife would be living in the thatched hut for a while.

On the other side, at the Liu family's old house, they burned down the woodshed, because it was just a separate thatched hut and burning it wouldn't affect the other houses.

They were afraid that if they didn't burn it, they would be infected.

It turned out that the bed in the room where Liu Erniu and the others lived had been chopped up for firewood.

The boxes and clothes were all burned to ashes.

The fourth son of the Liu family and his wife didn't eat dinner and went back to the county town overnight.

That evening, Tao'er sat by the window, and the gyrfalcon returned.

The handwriting is familiar, and the content is still simple: Seeing this letter is like seeing you in person. Is Tao'er well?

Are Ayan and Huanhuan still obedient?

What interesting things might happen at home?

Are there any difficulties?

Are you satisfied with Qingge's care?

If the problem cannot be resolved, have Qingge go to the Seven Killings Pavilion.

Tao'er replied: I am fine. I have hired a tutor for Ayan to teach him to read. The old tutor is very knowledgeable and of noble character. He often praises Ayan for his intelligence!

Huanhuan's relatives have been found; she is the granddaughter of Mr. Xu Heng.

I'm very satisfied with Qingge, thank you.

I'll let you in on something else: Qingge is engaged to my second brother.

From now on, she will no longer be yours, and I don't want her to have anything to do with the Seven Kill Pavilion or anything like that.

I hope Brother Xiao will grant my request!

I hope my family can live an ordinary and happy life.

Tao'er checked her reply again and felt there was nothing to add before putting it into a bamboo tube and tying it to the gyrfalcon's anklet.

Then he asked Qingge to go to the kitchen and cut a plate of raw meat so that the big bird could eat its fill.

After the gyrfalcon had eaten its fill, it nuzzled Tao'er's hand contentedly with its head before flying into the night sky.

Tao'er gazed in a certain direction: She wondered where Xiao Yi and the others were at this moment.