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In the vegetable patch, Lin Yuan happened to run into Da Qiangzi’s wife Loudmouth, and her two sons were there as well, heads down picking weeds from their plot of land.

The two boys competed to work, neither willing to let their mother endure hardship.

How could Da Qiangzi abandon such a good wife and children for a young and pretty widow? One wonders if he’ll regret it later.

"Seventh Sister," Lin Yuan called out sweetly. Loudmouth, who was weeding with her son, turned to look at her. Perhaps in a good mood today, she didn’t look as sour-faced as on the day they first met; a forgotten smile still lingered at the corners of her mouth. "Are you here to work, girlie? Look at your vegetables, oh dear, you’ve been too busy ’fighting’ with your eldest uncle and third uncle to care for your crops, haven’t you? "

Even Loudmouth, who lived at the west end of the village, knew about her family’s affairs; Lin Yuan felt somewhat embarrassed. However, upon seeing her sons, Lin Yuan suddenly remembered something and asked, "Seventh Sister, isn’t your second son working on building houses for others?"

"That’s right, the Mid-Autumn Festival’s coming, so he’s taking a day off," replied Loudmouth, her hands busy, not lifting her head, and casually inquired, "Why? Is your family planning to build a house?"

"Yes, I plan to start building it right after the Mid-Autumn Festival," Lin Yuan said, standing at the edge of the field, enviously looking over at Loudmouth’s thriving vegetable plot.

"What? Your family is really going to build a house?" Loudmouth was so surprised that the clump of weeds she was holding dropped to the ground. In the countryside, building a house is a big deal, as savings accumulated over several years can be completely drained by a single house.

Compared to her shock, Lin Yuan was much calmer as she smiled and said, "Yes, Seventh Sister, you might not know since you haven’t been to my house, but the three rooms we have now don’t get any sunlight.

My dad has trouble with his legs and is always in pain lying on the kang year-round.

Also, my mom is about to give birth, so I figured I’d better build a new one quickly, before winter.

It’ll be better for my parents to live in. "

After the initial surprise, Loudmouth calmed down and, after pondering for a while, nodded and said, "This matter, my Er Shuan can’t make the decision alone.

Anyway, I’m going to his cousin’s house during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

I’ll talk to him personally then. Maybe I can even get you a discount. "

As for the price, Lin Yuan wasn’t too concerned. What she really wanted to know was whether the house could be built according to her blueprints, but since Loudmouth offered, it would be impolite to refuse, so she smiled and agreed.

However, Loudmouth looked quite serious as she stepped closer and whispered, "You’re being foolish, just after cutting ties with those thankless brutes, you’re building a new house so openly.

Aren’t you afraid those people will come and make trouble for you?

I think it would be better to wait until after the Lunar New Year to build the house, to avoid their interference and sabotage. "

Lin Yuan hadn’t considered this before, and she thought that they were only acquaintances. She assumed Loudmouth’s offer of a discount was just casual talk, but she was now sincerely advising her—Loudmouth was even kinder-hearted than she appeared.

"It’s fine, let them cause a fuss if they want.

Will I, Lin Yuan, not build a new house because of them?

Besides, this house will be built with my own hard-earned money, which has nothing to do with them.

When we split from the family and severed ties, they only gave us two taels of silver and three plots of land, nothing more. "

Hearing Lin Yuan’s resolve, Loudmouth didn’t say any more, only softly reminding her that if she needed help, she could come to her; fighting and scolding were definitely Loudmouth’s specialties.

Lin Yuan was amused by her words; becoming friends with such a woman was indeed fortunate.

The vegetables in Lin Yuan’s field weren’t doing too well, and since she was no expert in farming, she figured she would ask her uncle for advice in a few days when her grandparents might arrive.

After exchanging pleasantries with Loudmouth, Lin Yuan decided to head home.

However, Loudmouth suddenly remembered something and approached Lin Yuan, whispering, "That Lin Er Shuan—isn’t he an acquaintance of your father?

Just as I was on my way here, I bumped into Xiao He’s shameless mother speaking ill.

She said that now that the second brother’s family has money, they no longer care about their elder brother and sister-in-law, and all they do is frequent Little Disaster Star’s house.

She also complained about fearing being overshadowed by his family, even though they’ve been separated for a long time!

That elder brother won’t even take care of his birth mother, and now that the younger brother is making money, they’re keen on mooching off him! Nothing but ungrateful wolves!"

Hearing this from Loudmouth gave Lin Yuan some reassurance.

Whether she shared this out of genuine concern or disdain for Xiao He’s mother, Lin Yuan was grateful to Loudmouth.

After all, Lin Dashuan was not someone to be taken lightly; he had always pestered their third aunt for money.

She would have to go and give Gui Zhi’s family a heads-up.

After parting ways with Loudmouth, Lin Yuan felt bored at home and decided to take out the mooncake filling Liuzi had brought over that day, and started preparing to make mooncakes.

This was actually all thanks to Lao Fan.

Yesterday she had given him a few mooncakes, and he had taken a fancy to them, arriving early in the morning with a big basin full of filling for her to make into mooncakes.

The day after tomorrow was Mid-Autumn Festival, and she had initially planned to take her family out to the town, but considering her parents’ health and the fact her younger sisters had already been to town, she set aside that thought.

Instead, she would make mooncakes at home for a cozy family gathering—wasn’t that better than going out?

Lin Yuan made quite a lot of mooncakes and divided them into several portions.

She had already delivered some to Gui Zhi’s sister-in-law and Lanhua’s house before, and in addition to keeping some for Lao Fan and their own family, she decided to make extra for the old village head and, recalling her encounter with Loudmouth in the vegetable field, included Loudmouth’s family as well.

As for the extra portion, after a day and night of internal struggle, Lin Yuan decided to pay a visit to the old family house.

She was adamant about not giving away any money—why should she hand over her hard-earned silver to those who didn’t treat them as family?

Besides, even if she did, would they appreciate her generosity?

Certainly not; more likely, their greed would escalate, and they would relentlessly chase after her family’s wealth!

She was willing to give them some food, though, since she was going there for her father. If not for Lin Jiaxin’s concern for his bedridden, stroke-stricken father and his lonely mother, Lin Yuan wouldn’t have bothered to extend such kindness to the elderly couple by bringing them mooncakes.