Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Pocket Supermarket

Chapter 2: Little Unlucky Star

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Yu Changhe tightened his grip on the wooden stick. He wanted to say something, but he swallowed his words.

Old Madam Yu continued, “After we part ways, you have to take care of the crop failure yourselves.

“Then, just give me and your father 50 copper coins every month for retirement. After all, ever since your leg became crippled, we raised your family of three for a few months for nothing.”

Madam Sun could not stand it anymore and said, “Mother, you have to speak with your conscience. What do you mean by raising us for a few months for nothing? Changhe can’t do heavy work, but I’ve done all the work at home and outside.

“In the past, when Changhe was a bailiff in town, the monthly salary of two taels of silver was handed over to you. Now, you’re not giving us land or money. Isn’t this too unfair to us?”

When Old Madam Yu saw that Madam Sun dared to argue with her, she immediately said with a cold expression, “Didn’t you say that the wasteland in the southwest corner would be given to you? As for the high-grade farmland, it’s useless to give it to you. He’s a cripple who can’t farm. After giving it to you, won’t it end up in the hands of your brothers?”

Madam Sun was furious at Old Madam Yu’s words. It seemed that the Yu family really did not intend to consider Yu Changhe as their son.

Madam Sun was so angry that she couldn’t say anything. Yu Changhe stepped forward and grabbed his wife’s wrist. He looked at Old Madam Yu and said, “Since you despise me for being a burden to this family, you can split up the family. However, you have to find the village chief and ask him to split up this family. No matter what, I won’t say anything.”

Old Madam Yu muttered, “Why are you looking for him? I know best how many things and plots of land there are in this house. I’ll just split them.”

Yu Changhe said coldly, “If the village chief doesn’t come, I won’t split this family!”

Father Yu, who had been squatting at the foot of the wall and smoking a bag of cigarettes, heard his second son’s words and knocked the pipe against the wall. After knocking away the ashes, he stood up. “I’ll go find the village chief.”

After Father Yu left, Yu Changfu walked up to Yu Changhe thoughtfully. He first sighed, then patted Yu Changhe’s shoulder and said earnestly, “Second Brother, you’re too stupid. Why did you have to keep that little unlucky star? Ever since you picked her up, Brother Kuang died in less than two years. Now, your leg is crippled, and our Elder Yu didn’t pass the imperial examination. Now, because of her, the family is splitting up. All of this is because she’s an unlucky star!”

Yu Changhe removed Yu Changfu’s hand from his shoulder expressionlessly. “This has nothing to do with Lian’er.”

Old Man Yu quickly found the village chief. Under the village chief’s instructions, Yu Changhe officially left the family.

Unlike before, he was given an additional mu of superior land, 500 copper coins, 200 catties of rice, 50 catties of sorghum rice, and a bag of cornmeal.

As for the place where they lived, it had not changed. The family of three still lived in the same house.

Old Madam Yu also gave Yu Changhe a few bowls, basins, and farming tools, but they were all the most broken ones.

As for the kitchen, Old Madam Yu asked Yu Changhe to build a stove in the backyard. Before it was built, they were allowed to temporarily borrow the original kitchen for a period of time. However, Old Madam Yu specially instructed her eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Cao, to buy things like oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar from the town herself. They were not allowed to borrow theirs.

Yu Changhe asked Madam Sun to bring the things into the house. Madam Sun carried the things and looked at Yu Xiaolian with tears in her eyes.

Her eyes were filled with indignation, and Yu Xiaolian saw it clearly.

When Yu Changhe brought Yu Xiaolian back, he was still working as a bailiff in town and earned two taels of silver a month. Therefore, when Yu Changhe wanted to adopt Yu Xiaolian, the entire Yu family did not object.

However, when Yu Xiaolian was two years old, Yu Zikuang, the son of Yu Changhe and Madam Sun, died of a high fever due to illness.

As Yu Xiaolian’s eyes were one-third gray, they were considered ominous by the villagers.

Later on, someone in the village started to spread rumors that Yu Xiaolian had killed Yu Changhe’s biological son.

In the beginning, Madam Sun didn’t care much about these rumors and treated Yu Xiaolian as well as ever.

Later on, as these rumors increased, Madam Sun also began to feel disgusted with Yu Xiaolian. However, Madam Sun only treated her coldly and violently and never hit her.

A few months ago, Yu Changhe offended the young master of the town’s bully, Pan Jinrong. Pan Jinrong sent someone to break his leg.

From then on, Yu Changhe lost his job and a leg. The Yu family immediately became tight on money, and Madam Sun found Yu Xiaolian more and more unpleasant to the eye.

All these years, Madam Sun had never gotten pregnant again. The villagers also said that it was Yu Xiaolian’s fault and that it would be fine if she was sent away.

Sigh, Yu Xiaolian was the bane of everyone in this village.

Madam Sun carefully stacked the bags of food in a corner of the house. The bottom was cushioned with wooden planks to prevent the rice from flowing out.

Yu Changhe carried a string of copper coins into the house.

They should have been given 500 copper coins, but Old Madam Yu only gave them 450 copper coins. Old Madam Yu directly deducted 50 copper coins in advance for next month’s retirement support fee.

Yu Changhe handed the copper coins that were tied with a thin string to Madam Sun. “Put it away!”

Madam Sun took the string of copper coins with tears in her eyes. “I didn’t expect Mother to be so heartless. In the past, the entire family relied on you to support them. Now that you’re crippled and can’t earn money, you’re separating our family.”

Yu Changhe did not respond to Madam Sun’s words. He only stretched out his hand and called Yu Xiaolian over. Then, he reached out and touched Yu Xiaolian’s forehead. Seeing that she was no longer running a high fever, he revealed a smile, but that smile did not reach his eyes.

At this moment, Yu Xiaolian’s emotions were extremely complicated because she knew that the outcome of everyone in the Yu family, including herself, was extremely tragic.

Yu Changhe looked at Madam Sun. “It’s almost noon. Can you make some food for Xiaolian?”

Madam Sun stopped packing. “Mother and the others are using the kitchen. Let’s wait for a while!”

Yu Xiaolian probed, “Father, can I go out and play?”

Yu Changhe glanced at Yu Xiaolian. “You’ve been running a high fever for the past few days. It wasn’t easy for you to recover, and you can’t go out for a breather now. Be good and play in the house!”

Yu Xiaolian frowned. If she wasn’t allowed to go out, how could she have the chance to find that witch?

She was afraid that if she delayed for too long, she would never be able to return to her original world.

Yu Changhe carried Yu Xiaolian to the bed and placed the bamboo basket on her lap. “Eat some wild fruits to fill your stomach first.”

Although Yu Xiaolian was already ten years old, her body was very thin and weak. She looked much younger than children her age. She glanced at the bamboo basket Yu Changhe handed her. There were a few wild apricots and a few wild pears that had just turned red.

Yu Xiaolian only took a glance at these wild fruits, and her mouth was already starting to water. However, Yu Changhe was currently staring at her, so she had no choice but to bite the hard pear.

To Yu Xiaolian’s surprise, not only was the pear not sour, but it was also slightly sweet. However, there was too little pulp and too many hard dregs, so the taste was not good.

Yu Xiaolian only took a bite and didn’t want to take a second bite. For some reason, she felt quite full at this moment. Thinking that she might always live in this world in the future, she was a little sad and depressed and wasn’t in the mood to eat at all.

“I’ll go out and ask Big Brother for help to build a stove in the backyard.” Yu Changhe lifted the curtain and dragged his crippled leg out.

Madam Sun carried half a bag of rice and glanced at Yu Xiaolian. “I’ll go to the east of the village to grind rice. Don’t run around at home.”

Yu Xiaolian nodded. She could tell from Madam Sun’s expression that she didn’t like her.