The Conditions on Your Mountain Must Be Pretty Harsh, Huh?

Grandmother looked at him and said, "I won't go and cause you any trouble. As long as you and Su'e are doing well, that's all that matters."

Liu Su'e began to speak:

"Grandmother, if you'd like to come up the mountain with us, we'll take you back today. It's no trouble at all."

"There's everything on the mountain—food, clothes—we don't need to bring anything."

Old Madam Zhou came in from outside with her three sons and three daughters-in-law, saying, "Oh! Fourth son, you're back?"

Zhou Fusheng looked at her and said, "Mother..."

Liu Su'e pretended not to see it. Old Madam Zhou glanced at her but didn't say anything, instead smiling and saying:

Now that you two are back, why don't you stay and not go back this time?

The children are all grown up now, and it's not easy for them to find spouses while they're still on the mountain. We have so many houses now, why don't you bring them down with you?

As for Wanwan, I've calculated it now; her fate has changed, and she's no longer a jinx."

Liu Su'e rolled her eyes and said:

"You change quite quickly, huh? You're different every minute. I don't want to live here."

I'm quite happy living in the mountains.

The eldest daughter-in-law chuckled and said:

"Conditions must be quite harsh up here on the mountain, right?"

I heard they're starving. Aren't bandits supposed to survive by robbing? You guys rob people all the time now?"

The third daughter-in-law glanced at her and said:

"What do you mean by robbery? He just got back, say something nice!"

Fourth brother and sister-in-law, you two used to be the hardest working in the family. You had to go out to earn money, and your sister-in-law had to do housework at home.

We all know in our hearts that we owe a lot to you two over the years, so when we were building the house, your parents said they would build one for you.

Our family has never forgotten you.

That's a very well said statement.

Old Madam Zhou looked at them and said:

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about that anymore. Let's go home and have dinner. The food is all cooked."

Mom and Dad, you should come too! It'll be more fun with more people.

Grandparents were quite happy to hear this.

They've built a new house, but they've never been invited over.

A large group of people went directly to the Zhou Family.

Sure enough, a feast was laid out at home, with chicken, duck, fish, and meat—everything imaginable.

Old Madam Zhou looked at the two of them and said, "What are you thinking? Are you coming back or not?"

Liu Su'e shook her head and said, "I really don't plan to come back. I'm used to living in the mountains now, and I wouldn't feel comfortable coming back."

Old Madam Zhou's face stiffened, and she was about to get angry when her third daughter-in-law nodded and said:

"Actually, living up in the mountains is quite comfortable, but what your parents really think is that they're worried about you."

You want to bring your grandparents over, right? How about this, you take us to see the village.

If the environment in the mountain village is more comfortable than in our village, then let my grandparents live on the mountain.

Actually, their family just wanted to see what the mountain was like.

Liu Su'e said calmly, "We'll talk about that later!"

The eldest daughter-in-law said sarcastically:

Fourth sister-in-law, we know very well what the situation is like up in the mountains. It's definitely not as comfortable as home!

It's okay, we're just going to see it for ourselves.

Actually, the air is so fresh up in the mountains! Although the food, clothing, and accommodations are definitely not as comfortable as at home.

But who knows, we might be able to hunt some wild game on the mountain to satisfy our cravings, don't you think?"

The second daughter-in-law chimed in:

"Each has its own advantages! I just don't know if my grandparents will be able to get used to living here."

I'm also curious, what's it like up in the mountain now? It's not really something shameful, is it?"

The eldest and second daughters-in-law looked on with amusement, as they had often bullied Liu Su'e before.

Liu Su'e sneered, "Life on the mountain is much better than at home. Don't think you're so great just because you're doing well now."

The eldest daughter-in-law burst out laughing.

"Alright, I'm not laughing at you, but you two are really unlucky."

Look at your eldest and second eldest brothers, they're both government officials now, your third brother is an accountant, but the fourth brother is still a commoner.

However, it's still much better than being a wanted criminal.

One should always be content!

These words were full of sarcasm, which infuriated Liu Su'e.

As soon as we sat down in the courtyard after finishing our meal, all the village's aunts and uncles came in.

The old women in the village are very gossipy and never hold back.

Someone stared at Liu Su'e and said in a sarcastic tone:

"Su'e, I've heard that you used to be wanted criminals?"

Wow, you guys are really something, daring to be robbers in the mountains!

Does that mean you just rob anyone who's rich?

A person next to him chimed in:

"How's life up in the mountains?"

I heard that life on the mountain is incredibly tough, with people constantly hungry, cold, and living in fear.

Some people even scoffed and said:

"That's right! I heard that people in the mountains are so poor they can even eat each other."

You guys are the same; you have perfectly good lives, yet you insist on going out and causing trouble.

Now look how good it is! Your eldest brother, second brother, and third brother are all yamen runners now, working for the county magistrate. How respectable!

Unlike you, you've ended up like this...

A group of people chattered amongst themselves, spittle flying everywhere, each word aimed at Liu Su'e's heart, enjoying the spectacle.

Liu Su'e said with a stern face, "Who told you that people on the mountain are so poor they can eat each other? Didn't you see the clothes we're wearing?"

Those people laughed loudly, "You must have stolen all these clothes, right? Oh my, you're even wearing silk, how luxurious!"

Liu Su'e was furious, but Old Madam Zhou quickly said, "Alright, alright, stop talking nonsense. You're such a chatterbox. Go home now."

These people turned around and all left.

Old Madam Zhou looked at them and said:

"You've all seen it, haven't you? It certainly doesn't have a good reputation up in the mountains."

Are all the children going to participate in the imperial examinations? If they're asked where you're staying, and you say you're staying at Black Wind Mountain Stronghold, how will you get to the examinations?

If I were to marry a woman in the future, and she heard you were from Black Wind Mountain Stronghold, who would dare to marry into that family?

And then there's Zhou Wanwan, who's famous throughout the county now. Everyone knows her; she's the leader of Black Wind Mountain Stronghold.

Whom are you going to make her marry then?

Liu Su'e and Zhou Fusheng exchanged a glance; in fact, they shared the same concern.

They don't really care, but if their child lives in the mountains for a long time, it might be difficult for him to find a wife if he actually goes on a scientific expedition.

Neither of them spoke.

The third daughter-in-law, standing nearby, looked at them and said:

"Oh, we're all family, we're not forcing you to move back in."

It's just to let you know that we have a house here, and you can come back if you want.

We'll celebrate the New Year together as a family, and then we'll go directly to your Black Wind Mountain Stronghold to celebrate.

We'll bring our grandparents along too, if they want to stay on the mountain.

"How about we stay on the mountain then?"

Zhou Fusheng and Liu Su'e still didn't give them an answer and went straight back up the mountain.