Chapter 54 What is a stepmother? Is there also a former mother?

Chapter 54 What is a stepmother? Is there also a former mother?

Xingxing stuck out her tongue and hurriedly tried to climb down from Bai Ge'er's arms.

Ju Ge'er glanced at Xingxing condescendingly. He chose to take a few steps and sprint towards Yu Sanbao.

Then—leaping, he jumped directly onto Yu Sanbao!

Ju Ge'er hung onto Yu Sanbao: "Dad, I missed you so much!"

Huh?

Xingxing tilted her little head.

Didn't they say Third Uncle and Second Brother were very tired from the journey and needed to rest?

Yu Sanbao laughed and patted Ju Ge'er's little bottom. "Alright, go tell everyone that we're back."

The little one was afraid Xingxing would snatch this task away from him. He slid off Yu Sanbao and ran with his short legs, almost tripping over the threshold of the Yu family's wooden gate.

He shouted as he ran: "Grandma! Eldest Aunt! Mother! Dad and Second Brother are back!"

Wei Pozi hurried out of the house. "Back already?"

Although Wei Pozi seemed calm when she saw Yu Sanbao and Bai Ge'er off, a mother always worries about her children far away. Yu Sanbao and Bai Ge'er were her dearest, how could she not worry?

Especially Li Chunhua.

In recent days, Li Chunhua hadn't slept well at all.

Seeing her son return safely, Li Chunhua cried and laughed, holding her son's arm and examining him up and down to see if he was hurt.

Su Rouer also came out of the third room, somewhat agitated. Their relationship had been improving just as Yu Sanbao left, making her miss him dearly.

Yu Sanbao gave Su Rouer a meaningful look, signaling her to follow. He put his arm around Wei Pozi's shoulders and pushed her towards the inner room. "Mother, let's go inside and talk."

Li Chunhua quickly pushed Bai Ge'er towards the main house.

Bai Xiaofeng was also at home. Although her son didn't go along, she was very curious about how much the pearl sold for, so she followed them in.

Once everyone entered the main house, Li Chunhua hurriedly poured water for Yu Sanbao and Bai Ge'er.

"Did anything happen on the way?" Wei Pozi asked with concern.

Yu Sanbao only laughed, but it was Bai Ge'er who, after gulping down a bowl of water, began to vividly recount the dangers they encountered on their journey.

It turned out that although they didn't encounter any highwaymen on the way, they did meet a thief while resting at an inn.

Fortunately, Yu Sanbao had sewn the pearl and most of their travel money into his undershirt, leaving only some copper coins and dry rations in their luggage.

The thief sneaked into their room late at night and ransacked their bags, finding nothing but a few copper coins and some dry rations. The thief assumed they were poor and quietly left.

The women gasped in shock.

Yu Sanbao then explained: "Encountering such petty thieves isn't a big deal. In these hard times, people don't have much money. Leaving a few copper coins in the luggage gives the thieves something, preventing them from becoming desperate and killing us."

Bai Ge'er nodded vigorously, his eyes shining. "I learned so much on this trip with Third Uncle!"

Li Chunhua didn't know what to say!

She had planned never to let Bai Ge'er travel far again, but knowing her son, she could see how much he enjoyed it by the light in his eyes!

Li Chunhua was torn!

"By the way, Third Brother, you haven't said how much the pearl sold for," Bai Xiaofeng swallowed and couldn't help asking.

Yu Sanbao sighed. "We only got five taels of silver for it."

Only five taels?!

Bai Xiaofeng was stunned, her disappointment evident.

Yu Sanbao looked at Ju Ge'er and then at Xingxing, coughed, and said, "Alright, we adults need to discuss things. You kids go outside for now."

Ju Ge'er wasn't happy.

Why did they have to leave?

But Xingxing was understanding, pulling Ju Ge'er's hand. "Ju Ge'er, we didn't finish playing catch earlier!"

Ju Ge'er's attention was immediately diverted. Though still a bit reluctant, he obediently let Xingxing lead him out.

Once the two little ones left, Yu Sanbao closed the door.

"I'm not worried about Xingxing, but Ju Ge'er... I know my son," Yu Sanbao explained to everyone. "That boy is simple-minded; others might learn about the pearl from him. So I told him we only got five taels. If it ever slips out, that amount won't draw too much attention."

Bai Xiaofeng finally understood, nodding in approval. "Third Brother, you think of everything."

Yu Sanbao chuckled, adding appreciatively, "Actually, it wasn't my idea. Bai Ge'er reminded me of it on the way."

Bai Ge'er scratched his head, embarrassed.

"So, how much did it really sell for?" Wei Pozi asked.

Yu Sanbao held up one hand and made a six gesture.

Li Chunhua hesitated, hardly daring to believe it. "Six taels of silver?"

Bai Xiaofeng gasped.

If it were only six taels of silver, I wouldn't have let the two little ones go out.

So this means it sold for...

Bai Xiaofeng didn't dare to think further, her whole body trembling.

Yu Sanbao didn't keep them in suspense either. Even now, he was still exhilarated, his voice slightly trembling: "Sixty taels! A full sixty taels!"

Sixty taels!

Due to the overwhelming surprise, everyone in the room was left speechless, their jaws agape.

...

Ju Geer and Xingxing ran outside to play with sandbags.

Xingxing was having a great time, and her little friend Yamei'er came out carrying a rattan ball to play with her.

The rattan ball was made by Yamei'er's father just a couple of days ago, and she loved it so much that she wouldn't let it go wherever she went.

Xingxing noticed something was off with Yamei'er and stopped playing, asking her, "What's wrong?"

Yamei'er, though two years older than Xingxing, was still just a child under six. She sighed like a little adult: "My father is going to get me a stepmother!"

Xingxing didn't know what a stepmother was and tilted her head: "What's a stepmother? Is there also a 'former mother'?"

Ju Geer chimed in from the side: "You don't know this? The new wife that Yamei'er's father marries will be her stepmother!"

Yamei'er bounced the rattan ball twice and nodded dejectedly.

Her mother had passed away when she was less than three years old, leaving her with only faint memories.

But the village said that stepmothers weren't good people, and that having a stepmother meant having a stepfather too, which scared her quite a bit.

Yamei'er was an only child, and there was no one else at home but her and her father, so she couldn't even discuss it with anyone.

Yamei'er nervously held Xingxing's hand, almost crying: "They say stepmothers aren't nice to children. They won't give food or clothes, and they'll beat and scold us. Waaah, Xingxing, I'm so scared."

Xingxing also became frightened upon hearing this.

Waaah, so scary!

The two little girls hugged each other, trembling.

Ju Geer asked curiously, "Have you seen your stepmother yet?"

Yamei'er shook her head but then suddenly remembered something and said excitedly: "I know where she lives. My father showed me. I should go take a look now!"