Chapter Sixty-One: The Deng Family's Shop Has Gone Bankrupt

Meng Yun had originally wanted to seize the opportunity to teach Deng Xiaohua a lesson, but the next day, the Lin family arrived!

The elderly couple from the Lin family came; bored at home, they hitched a ride on Grandpa Liu's donkey cart at the village entrance early in the morning and headed to the county town.

By the time they arrived at the Lin family's shop, Fubao was already pressed into the study by Meng Yun to practice calligraphy.

It was almost time for her to attend private school—children must win at the starting line!

Fubao: Sob, sob, sob, sob.

The arrival of Granny Lin rescued Fubao from the tumultuous sea of books, and with her newfound freedom, Fubao sweetly called her "dear grandma" at every turn.

Meng Yun felt a pang of jealousy—how had she given birth to such a little flatterer!

In the end, Fubao, nibbling on the pastries Granny Lin brought, nestled in her arms with a triumphant look that said, "I'm the most important!"

Meng Yun wanted to spank this girl!

During their visit, Granny Lin shared news about the family and the latest antics from the Tian family.

The story went that Tian, the fourth son, had escaped from prison and returned home unloved by his parents. Even his wife, Mrs. Li, looked down on him.

But after one outing to the mountain, something seemed to change! That day, he brought home a wild boar—quite a feat—and his whole demeanor seemed transformed.

He didn't share the boar with anyone; instead, he sold it directly. No matter how his brothers protested, they couldn't sway him.

That boar was exchanged for money by Tian the fourth, and with the cash in hand, he simply disappeared. Now, no one knew where he had gone.

"He left?" Lin Sanlang exclaimed in surprise. The whole business with Tian the fourth was strange; from what he knew, Tian was more likely to get beaten by a pig than to catch one. And for a wanted man to just wander off?

The Lin family found it peculiar, but as long as it didn't involve them, they didn't care.

As for the recent incident at the rouge shop—Fubao wasted no time in complaining to Granny Lin. The two, grandmother and granddaughter, puffed up in indignation. Granny Lin threatened to confront those shameless people and squeeze compensation out of them. She slammed the table in anger, and Fubao echoed her every curse.

Old Lin...

Old Lin...

Meng Yun...

These women were corrupting the child!

Eventually, Meng Yun instructed Zhi'er to stew the chicken she had bought. After two hearty bowls, the grandmother and granddaughter’s anger was soothed!

Let’s set that aside for now.

A few days later, after a brief rest, the Lin family’s rouge shop reopened!

As soon as the doors opened, Meng Yun saw that the Deng family’s shop across the street was in utter disarray. The signboard for Deng’s Rouge Workshop was barely hanging.

Meng Yun: What happened? Had there been a robbery in just a few days?

From the vegetable vendor, who had been setting up her stall since early morning, Meng Yun learned the truth.

"Oh, this family’s rouge caused trouble. A young lady used their rouge and ended up disfigured—her face was covered in red swelling, her eyes and mouth puffed up as if she'd eaten pounds of chili, looking like a monster. Tsk! The shop was smashed as well!" The vegetable vendor described the victim’s situation in simple, vivid language.

Meng Yun: Goosebumps rising.

But why did she feel a bit excited?

A few days later, Fubao was dragged off to the Gu household by her uncle, Meng Lang. On the way, Meng Xuan pulled out two paper-wrapped pastries from his pocket.

Wow! Pastries from Wheat Fragrance Pavilion—so delicious! Fubao’s eyes lit up.

"Bao’er, today go play with Aunt Xiaoxiao and see what she’s been up to lately!

And take this extra pastry to give to Aunt Xiaoxiao," Meng Xuan said. He’d done something foolish a few days ago, thoroughly offending that girl, and now, out of options, he wanted his niece to visit the Gu household and see how things stood.