Chapter 729 - 725: A Large Sum of Money

Seeing how late it was getting, the villagers began to disperse.

However, the news that Gu Jiaojiao had received five hundred yuan still spread everywhere.

Along with it, word also got out that Sweet Girl and Xiao Yang’s brother was so promising and was sure to have a bright future.

Those who had previously thought Gu Jiaojiao was being foolish, with more money than sense for adopting two children who weren’t her own blood, were now filled with envy and jealousy.

After being yelled at by Leng Qingtian, Sun Yeshu ran straight back to her parents’ home in tears. The Sun family had always doted on their daughter, so they all stayed home to comfort her instead of going to see what the commotion was about.

It was the auntie from next door who gossiped about the matter with Mrs. Sun.

When Sun Yeshu found out, she snorted sourly. "What’s so great about it? So what if she has five hundred yuan? So what if she knows so many impressive people? That woman’s greatest failure is not having children of her own."

And wouldn’t you know it, her words received unanimous approval from the Sun family. They all thought Sun Yeshu had a point.

A woman who can’t even bear children—is she even a woman?

In the past, a woman like that was considered a criminal and could be divorced and sent back to her parents’ home immediately.

Hearing her family say all this, Sun Yeshu instantly felt vindicated.

Meanwhile, Jiang Baishu observed the environment where Sweet Girl and Xiao Yang lived, saw their exquisite toys, and noted that they were well-dressed and had filled out in the face. It was clear from every aspect that the two were being meticulously cared for.

Jiang Baishu’s gratitude toward Leng Yuan and Gu Jiaojiao deepened.

Sweet Girl told Jiang Baishu about their experiences over the past few years, and hearing it felt like a knife twisting in his heart.

What others had told him was only a fragmented version of the story. But what Sweet Girl described was her own firsthand experience. Only someone who had lived through it could know just how difficult those days had been.

For lunch, Gu Jiaojiao made noodles with a savory gravy—it was simple and quick. They had been delayed that morning and couldn’t afford to waste any more time in the afternoon.

In the afternoon, Jiang Baishu went to work as well. His work points were recorded under Gu Jiaojiao’s household, and of course, the brigade leader had no objections.

It just so happened that Leng Qingtian had collapsed.

Word was he had passed out from overwork.

So, the brigade leader gave Leng Qingtian time off, and Jiang Baishu took over his work.

Jiang Baishu knew farm work was hard and tiring; he had done it as a child. But after all his years of grueling training "inside," this bit of farm labor was naturally no problem for him.

But when he found he couldn’t catch up to the man in front of him, no matter how hard he worked, Jiang Baishu began to doubt himself.

’How is Brother Leng still so exceptional after all these years?’

Even as a child, he had felt that Leng Yuan was different from the other village kids. Leng Yuan had always been quieter and knew more than others. But for Jiang Baishu to still be unable to surpass him after so many years of training... that was truly formidable.

For a whole week, Jiang Baishu helped out with the work, earning twelve work points each day.

After work, a few of them would also arrange to go up the mountain together.

The brothers Xu Chongshan and Xu Chongfeng would go along too.

Chen Jie would sometimes go and sometimes not.

In any case, they always managed to hunt something every time they went up the mountain.

Some people also went to the river to catch fish.

But the fish in the river were hard to catch; they were incredibly cunning. However, there was a designated fishing event once a year in September.

When Gu Jiaojiao came to the countryside last year, the event had already passed. This year, she would have a chance to see it.

As time went by, the busy farming season was also coming to an end.

The verdict for Old Nine came down. He avoided the death penalty but was sentenced to twenty years inside.

With Old Nine gone from the black market, Lu Yuanbin no longer had a rival. Many of his men urged him to go back to his old trade, but Lu Yuanbin refused.

Though he wasn’t as smart as Brother Leng, he knew that since he was the one who brought down Old Nine, An Dongyang wouldn’t let him off so easily.

Not only did he stay away, but he also told his men not to get involved.

What Lu Yuanbin didn’t know was that An Dongyang really did have people watching him.