Exile? A mad, wicked woman empties the national treasury to escape famine.

Just then, I heard another gurgling sound from my stomach.

Aunt Zhu touched her belly and looked around. Everyone was working hard, gathered in twos and threes, some breaking the ice, some fishing. Many people had already broken the ice and made a hole in it, just waiting to catch fish.

Aunt Zhu was also feeling a little itchy inside.

If these people can break the ice to catch fish, she certainly can too!

She seemed to see those people using something called a pickaxe to break through the ice.

After thinking for a moment, Aunt Zhu did not go to find Ji Yunshu, but instead went behind a woman who was relatively plump and gently patted her back.

"Auntie Pang, Auntie Pang, I have something to ask you. After you use that iron pickaxe you used to break the ice, can I use it for a bit?"

I see you're all queuing up, how about I line up behind you?

After you use it, let me use it too. I want to break open the ice and catch some fish...

Aunt Zhu spoke politely enough, but the woman she called "Fat Aunt" was clearly not paying attention to her. She glanced at the newcomer, saw it was Aunt Zhu, rolled her eyes, and said impatiently:

"What's the use of telling me this? That pickaxe isn't mine. Even if you want to use it, you should at least tell Yun Shu."

"Yun Shu's permission is required. Why don't you ask the owner about other people's things? What do you mean by that? Alright, alright, move aside, don't block the way, it'll be my turn soon."

As the fat aunt spoke, she impatiently shoved Aunt Zhu aside.

Just then, the person in front of her ran out of pickaxes. She ran over excitedly, took the pickaxe from him, and led her family to a spot where they began to dig through the ice with great effort.

Aunt Zhu hadn't eaten her fill, and when Aunt Pang pushed her, she almost fell over. It took her a while to regain her balance.

She gritted her teeth in anger and glared at the fat aunt. Fine, she wouldn't give it to her if she didn't want it. It's just Ji Yunshu's stuff!

Why doesn't she just ask?

She straightened her clothes. "Why did you push me? You almost made me fall. It's just Yun Shu's stuff, a tool. You wait, I'll tell Yun Shu right now!"

After Aunt Zhu finished speaking, she turned around and slowly walked towards Ji Yunshu. She spoke loudly, and many people heard her.

This was done on purpose by Aunt Zhu.

Ji Yunshu led so many people to break the ice and fish, and these people had no connection with Ji Yunshu at all, yet Ji Yunshu kindly lent them iron pickaxes.

Aunt Zhu didn't believe it. She had asked Ji Yunshu for something in front of so many people, and Ji Yunshu would have the nerve to refuse to lend it to her?!

At this moment, Ji Yunshu, Chen Shi, Aunt Wang, and others gathered together.

Wang Rong has returned and is constantly expanding their family's ice cave. Aunt Wang, Ji Yunshu, Chen Shi, and others are sitting on the shore, busy weaving fishing nets.

Before, Aunt Wang went fishing, so she had fallen behind in weaving fishing nets. Now that Wang Rong has returned, Aunt Wang is focusing on learning to weave fishing nets with Chen and the others.

After a while, the group worked hard and the large fishing net was almost finished, with only a little finishing work left.

Ji Yunshu held the fishing net in her hand and followed Wang Rong and the others to finish up. While listening to Aunt Zhu's words, she caught a glimpse of Aunt Zhu walking towards her out of the corner of her eye.

She pretended not to see the person who came, and slightly turned her body to the side, turning her back to Aunt Zhu.

She found this person's presence annoying!

Where does she get the nerve to ask to borrow her pickaxe?!

Did Aunt Zhu really think that she would be so kind as to repay evil with kindness and lend her the pickaxe?

She continued with her work, intending to completely ignore Aunt Zhu.

A moment later, a rustling sound came from behind, followed by Aunt Zhu coughing twice, and then shouting at the top of her lungs:

"Yunshu, it's me. What are you all doing? We just got back from work today. We heard that you led everyone to break the ice and fish, and quite a few people caught fish."

Your father just got back, he's exhausted, and asked me to borrow your pickaxe.

We also want to break the ice and catch some fish to add to our meal.

I just came to tell you that after they use that pickaxe, you can use it too.

She spoke loudly, and many people looked in their direction.

Aunt Zhu looked smug; she refused to believe that Ji Yunshu would have the nerve not to lend her the money in front of so many people.

It's just a small matter like borrowing a pickaxe; Ji Yunshu shouldn't go so far as to embarrass her in front of so many people.

A moment later, Ji Yunshu was still finishing up the fishing net in her hand, as if she hadn't heard Aunt Zhu's words at all.

The other people in the Wang family sat together, weaving fishing nets with Aunt Wang.

Ji Yunshu didn't say anything, and they pretended not to hear her.

Aunt Zhu is very shameless; their relationship with her isn't good enough for her to lend them things.

Ji Yunshu didn't say anything, and they simply focused on their own tasks.

The others around them watched with expressions of amusement. Many people in the village knew that Ji Yunshu had a bad relationship with Aunt Zhu and Minister Ji.

They also wanted to see if Ji Yunshu would lend anything to this Aunt Zhu.

After a long while, Ji Yunshu still did not react.

Seeing that many people were staring at them, Aunt Zhu felt embarrassed and shouted again:

"Yunshu, did you hear what I said? You should at least respond. I just told that fat aunt that I could use the pickaxe after she used it."

She said she wanted me to come and ask you, but I already said we're family, why bother?

Although we had some unpleasantness before, we are still family. My husband is your father, and I believe you wouldn't be so petty, Yunshu.

Don't worry, I'll return the pickaxe to you after I've used it.

As Aunt Zhu spoke, a smug smile appeared on her lips.

She had already said all that, so she didn't believe that Ji Yunshu would actually do something so petty.

Ji Yunshu pursed her lips and put down the fishing net in her hand.

She was really at her wit's end. She had originally planned to ignore Aunt Zhu, but the woman was acting like a madwoman, constantly chattering in her ear.

They spoke incredibly rudely; I simply couldn't tolerate it any longer!

She looked at Aunt Zhu expressionlessly.

"That's enough, you surnamed Zhu. Our relationship isn't good enough for us to borrow things from each other. Does not lending you anything make me stingy?"

Sorry, I can borrow from anyone in Anjia Village, but not you. Call me stingy or selfish if you want, but don't even think about borrowing a pickaxe from me today!

"If you really want to fish, think of other ways. You and Old Man Ji are so skilled, it's just a matter of chiseling an ice hole to fish, how difficult could that be!"