As everyone settled in, Fu Yu drove the carriage back.
The tinkling of horse bells echoed on the mountain path, and from the carriage came Fang Mu's words, filled with the joy of overcoming hardship.
Fu Xin Ci and her brother also mounted their horses, following the carriage like two bodyguards.
Now that his elder sister and brother-in-law had been found, Fang Xiao Tao's worried expression vanished, and he happily drove the ox cart behind them.
Further back, the He family's faces had turned grim, especially the youngest daughter-in-law.
Her eyes had been busy just now, taking in the Fang family's daughter and son-in-law with a thorough inspection.
Oh, mother, she finally understood what a benefactor looked like.
Look at that Fang family son-in-law, tall and graceful, with an elegant demeanor, absolutely the kind of benefactor people spoke of.
Alas, she now regretted it. If she had known earlier that the Fang family's daughter was married to such a benefactor, she wouldn't have been so blunt and sharp-tongued towards the Fang family's elders.
The more the woman thought about it, the more she regretted it, muttering to her husband.
"Second brother, do you think the Fang family's daughter and son-in-law will blame us?"
The woman's voice was not quiet, and the He family's eldest son's wife heard it clearly. Immediately, she rolled her eyes dramatically and sneered, "The Fang family's son-in-law definitely won't blame me. I didn't make veiled accusations about the elders only eating and not working."
The red-clothed woman was about to retort, but He Da Sao, confident in her reasoning, didn't want to listen to her twisted logic.
"You do nothing yourself every day, yet you openly and indirectly ordered the mother-in-law to do the work. You're shameless, and you don't drag me down with you."
As the eldest daughter-in-law spoke, He Mu's face turned red first. Back at home, she had witnessed her younger daughter-in-law ordering her in-law around twice.
At the time, she thought, it's just doing some work, it won't kill her, so she didn't say anything.
But she had also clearly seen the demeanor of the Fang family's daughter and son-in-law just now. Even though the Fang family's daughter was crying uncontrollably, her clothing was more elegant than that of a landlord's wife.
And the Fang family's son-in-law, he spoke gently and courteously, but there was a glint in his eyes.
Oh, the bearing of a benefactor, how could people from the mountains like them comment on it?
He Fu's eyes were fixed on the tall horses. Never mind that two little children were each riding one, even the old horse pulling the cart was sleek and shiny.
Oh, just looking at those horses made one feel auspicious. How much silver would it take to acquire them? He wondered how many fine horses the Fang family's son-in-law's family actually owned.
Thinking back to the mountain, he hadn't disciplined his wife and youngest daughter-in-law. Now it seemed they had been short-sighted.
Fu Yu drove the carriage, and once the carriage entered the mountain pass where the road widened enough for two carriages to pass side-by-side, he beckoned his daughter over.
"Father."
"Ci'er, take that family to the school. Hand them over to your Grandpa Song."
"Yes." Fu Xin Ci had the same idea. If they dared to bully her maternal relatives and still wanted to enter the Meng family's gate, they wouldn't get past her.
She hadn't even made a move yet, and her father had already given the order, making her even happier.
Before her father's carriage turned onto the road leading to the Meng family's courtyard, Fu Xin Ci, on horseback, had already intercepted the He family's ox cart.
Without waiting for He Fu to ask, Fu Xin Ci bowed first and then spoke, "Elder, the school ahead is housing refugees from Qingzhou."
As Fu Xin Ci finished speaking, before He Fu could reply, the He family's youngest daughter-in-law became displeased.
"You child, you are so ill-mannered. We are here to visit our relatives at your home, why are you treating us like refugees?"
Fu Xin Ci didn't even look at her, but continued to speak to He Fu, "Yesterday, the imperial court just issued relief money and supplies. The resettlement allowance alone was two taels per person, and everyone received cotton clothes, bedding, and food."
Upon hearing that the resettlement allowance was two taels per person, He Fu's eyes immediately lit up. His family had nine people, young and old, so how could he not be tempted?
As mountain folk, the He father and son were not hunters. They lived by the few acres of poor land on the hillside. Even with frugal living for the whole year, they couldn't save much money.
Nine people meant eighteen taels of silver. Without guessing, his inner scales had already tipped.
Just as the youngest daughter-in-law was about to speak, he glared at her fiercely.
Fu Xin Ci saw everything. Suppressing a cold smile in her heart, she continued, "Minister Yan has gone to the General's mansion, so he should be back in a day or two. The relief supplies will be supplemented for you then."
"Thank you." With eighteen taels of silver dangling before him, He Fu's small eyes seemed even smaller.
The youngest daughter-in-law was about to speak again when He Fu loudly reprimanded, "Hu Shi, our He family is a family with rules. You, a new bride, have no right to interject in every matter. What kind of behavior is this?"
He Fu's words completely stunned Hu Shi. Hadn't she always been so unrestrained? Her father-in-law had never lectured her before. What was happening today?
Fu Xin Ci's lips curved upwards, the mockery... profound.
He Fu's mind was only on the eighteen taels of silver he was about to receive. Everyone loved bright silver ingots.
He paid no mind to what the little girl was thinking and immediately called for his family to follow.
The He family was accustomed to obeying He Fu's commands. Everyone, except Hu Shi who still stared resentfully at Fu Xin Ci, followed without any complaints.
This was much better.
When Fu Xin Ci led the He family to the entrance of the school, she saw Song Ban Tou talking with Old Lin.
"Grandpa Song, Grandpa Lin."
"Ah."
"Xin Ci is here."
After paying her respects to the two elders, Fu Xin Ci explained the He family's situation to them.
Song Ban Tou was sharp, and Old Lin was also astute. Knowing Fu Yu's attitude, they could guess that the He family must have done something improper to provoke those important figures into losing face and being cold to this family.
Fu Xin Ci had conveyed her father's wishes and didn't want to waste any more time here. She bowed to the two elders and He Fu, then turned and led her horse away.
"Hey, where are you going?"
Hu Shi reached out, trying to stop Fu Xin Ci, but Fu Xin Ci deftly avoided her.
"You."
Hu Shi tried to chase after her but saw that Fu Xin Ci had already leaped onto her horse and galloped away.
"This..."
Fu Xin Ci no longer paid attention to the He family. In any case, with Grandpa Song and the others making arrangements, they could relax.
In the Meng family's courtyard, the Fang family had already been settled in the west wing.
Along the way, the most Fang Shi heard was the rumbling of her mother's stomach.
Fang Mu tried to tighten her belt, afraid that her son-in-law would hear. She didn't know that this scene in front of Fang Shi almost made her break down.
Holding her mother's emaciated hands, Fang Shi trembled and comforted, "Mother, please bear with it a little longer. We'll be home soon."
"Yes," Fang Mu replied, blushing.