Chapter 290: Hated People at the Door, Moving House
Chapter 290: Chapter 290: Hated People at the Door, Moving House
Dragon Wisdom Grass must be planted in a place with Dragon Energy, or in a place where Dragon Energy once resided.
"Mhm, these aquatic plants are quite long. I can cut some today and take them home to stir-fry," Zhao Nuanyue said. With that, she forgot about catching fish for a moment. She first cut a large handful of Dragon Wisdom Grass, washed it, and set it aside to dry before starting to net fish again.
This time, Zhao Nuanyue had come with a pull-along wicker trunk. Inside was a basin holding the cleaned fish. She placed a sheet of plastic over the fish and then put the Dragon Wisdom Grass on top.
Zhao Nuanyue led Little Red Carp out, locked the door, and said goodbye to the staff at the street administrative office before leaving.
After coming out, Zhao Nuanyue found her bicycle. Just as she was about to tie the basket to the back rack, she heard a voice that was both familiar and yet strangely distant.
"Eh?" came an old woman’s voice. "I remember it was right here. How come I can’t find it?"
Another, younger woman’s voice chimed in, "Grandma, did you remember wrong? This is clearly the street office. How could it be our family’s grand courtyard house?"
Zhao Nuanyue didn’t turn around, but Little Red Carp looked toward the old woman and the young woman.
’What’s meant to come has finally arrived.’
Even though it had been over two years, Zhao Nuanyue recognized their voices instantly.
Wang Lianhua and Zhao Huilan.
’Shameless. To think they’d call this their grand courtyard house. They can dream on!’
Zhao Nuanyue pushed her bicycle forward, hopped on, and rode away.
After turning a corner, Little Red Carp asked cautiously, "Sister, who were that old woman and young woman?"
"Heh, you should be able to guess," Zhao Nuanyue said with a bitter smile. "They are Zhao Jinghai’s mother, Wang Lianhua, and his daughter, Zhao Huilan. It’s obvious they’ve got their eyes on my house."
"Huh?" Little Red Carp was taken aback. "But this house is already yours!"
Zhao Nuanyue gave another bitter smile. "The house is mine, but if they come to stay and I refuse, they’ll probably cause a huge scene. The buildings in our backyard have been gradually tidied up. I’m going back right now to ask my senior brothers to help me move. We’ll live there. Once the front courtyard is rented out, there won’t be any space left for them."
"Oh, I see." Little Red Carp had a moment of realization. "But living by Qingya Lake is great! Not only will there be fish to eat and Dragon Wisdom Grass, but more importantly, we can cultivate."
"Mhm." Zhao Nuanyue pedaled her bicycle furiously, afraid that Wang Lianhua and Zhao Huilan would see her.
Zhao Nuanyue was starting to admire her own foresight. She had anticipated this and rented out the front of the house ahead of time.
’Heh, Wang Lianhua, Zhao Huilan... people like them with ulterior motives are doomed to be disappointed.’
Back at Immortal Grass Hall, Zhao Nuanyue found Madam Sun and said, "Madam Sun, my step-grandmother and stepsister were just snooping around my house near Qingya Lake. I think they’re planning to move in. I’ve already rented out the front courtyard, and I’m planning to live in the back myself. I’m going to move back right now, otherwise they’ll see the house is empty and try to force their way in."
"Oh!" Although Madam Sun was reluctant to see her go, she knew Zhao Nuanyue had to. "As the old saying goes, it’s easier to invite a demon in than to send one away. If that family moves in, it’ll be hard to get rid of them later."
"Yes!" Zhao Nuanyue nodded. "When my senior brothers get off work, I’ll ask them to help me move."
"Alright. If you run into any trouble or need anything, just tell me, and I’ll get it for you," Madam Sun said. "If you have any problems, just say so. Don’t be shy. There’s no need to be so formal with me and your master."
"Okay, thank you, Madam Sun," Zhao Nuanyue said gratefully. Although she hadn’t known Madam Sun for long, she had already grown to like this gentle and forthright woman.
That evening, after dinner, Liu Wenqiang, Tang Kai Xuan, and Zhao Nuan Yang began loading their luggage into a car and then drove it all to the house by Qingya Lake.
It was only three kilometers away, so it wasn’t far. Traveling between the two places would be very convenient in the future.
Once there, Zhao Nuanyue and Liu Wenqiang unloaded the car. Tang Kai Xuan and the other senior brothers, who had arrived on foot, helped her check the house from top to bottom before taking their leave.
Zhao Nuan Yang didn’t go inside. Instead, he said, "Sister, Little Red Carp, don’t be afraid. I can protect you now."
"Yes, that’s right. Nuanyang can protect me now," Zhao Nuanyue chuckled. "But I’m not the weak little girl I used to be, either. I have the ability to protect myself. Besides, I’m Hua Yusen’s fiancée. With the Hua family behind me, Wang Lianhua won’t dare to do anything to me!"
Little Red Carp tilted its head up, looked at its standing brother and sister, and said, "Little Red Carp can protect Brother and Sister, too."
The brother and sister looked down, saw the adorable Little Red Carp, and both of them smiled.
They had more than enough ability to protect themselves. They weren’t afraid of them at all.
"Alright, it’s getting late. There’s hot water in the bathroom. You go wash up first, and I’ll tidy up a bit," Zhao Nuanyue urged. The hour was late; there was no need to linger.
"Okay," Zhao Nuan Yang agreed, grabbing a change of clothes and heading to the washroom next to the toilet.
By the time Zhao Nuanyue finished tidying up and had washed up as well, it was already past ten o’clock.
Little Red Carp was already starting to doze off, so Zhao Nuanyue carried it to its room to sleep. Zhao Nuan Yang checked the front and back doors, making sure they were both latched. He also made sure the door to the kitchen stove was closed, with a kettle of water already placed on top to heat.
When they got up in the morning, the large kettle of water would be perfect for washing their faces.
After checking that everything was in order, Zhao Nuan Yang returned to his room, but he couldn’t fall asleep for a long time. He still remembered when Zhao Jinghai had tricked them into coming home, wanting to marry his sister off to a fool in exchange for a promotion.
His sister had been beaten black and blue that time, covered in injuries. He had also been tormented for a long time. Even now, he couldn’t forget the helplessness, fear, and rage he had felt back then.
Now, they had grown up. They had their own abilities and strength.
If Zhao Jinghai’s family thought they could pull the same tricks or bully them like before, it was pure wishful thinking.
The next morning, Zhao Nuanyue got up. Without even stopping to wash up, she opened the vent on the coal-briquette stove, then rinsed some rice, added water, and put it on the stove to start making congee. Only then did she go to wash her face and do her chores.
When Zhao Nuan Yang got up, he was outside the back door of the rear courtyard, by the shore of Qingya Lake, practicing his horse stance and boxing.
He had trained with Hua Yusen before, but it was only the basics—enough for self-defense and to build up his body.
For breakfast, Zhao Nuanyue made sweet and sour stir-fried cabbage, a dish of pickled potherb mustard, and three boiled eggs.
"Nuanyang, time for breakfast!" Zhao Nuanyue called out. Her brother had to go to work today, Little Red Carp had to go to school, and she had to go to the hospital.