Li Dong was astonished—why had Cai Damei suddenly returned?
"It was your father who wrote to me, saying there'd been heavy rains recently and that Jun'er and his father's graves were damaged. He asked me to bring Pan'er back to repair them," Cai Damei explained her reason for returning before asking Li Dong, "Dongzi, where are your uncle and Jun'er's new burial sites?"
"Impossible. Just the other day, I went home with my father to burn paper money for Uncle and Xiaojun. Their graves were perfectly fine, untouched by any damage," Li Dong refuted heatedly.
"Really?"
"Auntie, you know me—I never lie," Li Dong insisted firmly.
"Then what about the letter?" Cai Damei was puzzled.
"Auntie, don’t go back to the village just yet. I’ll return home first and discuss this with my father," Li Dong sensed something was amiss.
Cai Damei agreed and arranged with Li Dong to wait for his news at the Laifu Inn in town.
Back at the inn, Cai Damei told Ye Yunniang about the matter and didn’t hide it from Bao Min or Tong Mo either.
"I’ll investigate," Tong Mo, who was skilled at gathering information, volunteered.
Before Li Dong could return with any news, Tong Mo had already uncovered the truth.
Two years ago, Li Jun and his father had passed away one after the other.
The Ye family had schemed to take Ye Yunniang back so they could sell her off again.
Landlord Huang from the neighboring village wanted to arrange a "fortunate marriage" for his ailing son, Huang Jiabao.
Huang Jiabao’s birth characters matched perfectly with Ye Yunniang’s.
The Ye family took the money and promised to deliver Ye Yunniang to the Huangs at the auspicious hour.
But unexpectedly, Ye Yunniang left Lijia Village with Cai Damei and went straight to Jiangcheng.
Not wanting to delay the auspicious hour, Landlord Huang chose the second-best match for his son.
"Huang Jiabao died of illness a month ago. He left no descendants, and Landlord Huang himself was injured and can no longer father children. The Huang family line has ended," Tong Mo summarized.
"What does this have to do with luring us back?" Ye Yunniang asked, confused.
"Landlord Huang blames you for his family’s extinction. He believes that if you hadn’t left and had performed the fortunate marriage for his son, the boy would have recovered and fathered heirs. The Huang family wouldn’t have died out," Tong Mo explained Landlord Huang’s twisted reasoning.
"Nonsense! I would never have agreed to let Yunniang be part of such a farce," Cai Damei snapped. Ye Yunniang was a widow of the Li family—she wasn’t some sacrificial bride.
"That’s Landlord Huang’s delusion. He’s pinned all his son’s misfortunes on you," Tong Mo reiterated.
"Li Wenkuo?"
"The letter wasn’t from Li Wenkuo—it was written by Li Wu." Hearing Li Wu’s name, Cai Damei wasn’t surprised in the least.
Li Wu was the cousin of Li Min, Li Pan’s grandfather.
Being neighbors and relatives, the two families should have been close.
But Li Wu had envied Li Min since childhood, always competing with him.
After Li Jun and Li Min passed away, Li Wu had been the most vocal.
He spread rumors that Cai Damei and Ye Yunniang were cursed—husband-killers and son-killers—and tried to drive the two widows out of Lijia Village.
Li Wu even offered to adopt Li Pan and raise him properly.
Everyone knew what he was really after.
Fortunately, Li Min had foreseen this and made arrangements before his death.
Cai Damei acted decisively, selling their house and land without hesitation.
Ye Yunniang obediently packed their belongings, carrying Li Pan as they left with Cai Damei.
Li Wu had spent a fortune bribing the Li family elders to secure their land.
In the end, his schemes came to nothing.
His hatred for Cai Damei and Ye Yunniang ran deep.
When Landlord Huang approached him to lure the women back, Li Wu gladly took the money and agreed.
Li Wu knew nearly everything about Li Min’s family.
He was aware Cai Damei had a sister running a shop in Jiangcheng—it was almost certain she’d seek refuge there.
Posing as Li Wenkuo, Li Wu wrote the letter, tricking Cai Damei and Ye Yunniang into believing their late husbands’ graves were in disrepair.
Sure enough, the two women returned upon receiving the news.
"What do they plan to do?"
"Landlord Huang has chosen an auspicious date for you to be buried alive with his son. As for Li Wu, he’s already found a ‘new home’ for Li Pan," Tong Mo revealed.
Ye Yunniang touched the ring on her finger, forcing herself to stay calm.
"Do they know we’re back?"
"Not yet."
Bao Min and Tong Mo had been the ones driving the carriage the entire journey. With two children in tow, they didn’t match the description Landlord Huang’s men were watching for—two women and one child.
Bao Min, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "Madam, I have a suggestion. We can ensure these schemers end up with nothing."
The villagers chatting at the entrance of Lijia Village perked up at the sound of approaching hooves.
"A carriage is coming!"
"Whose relatives are visiting?"
"Since when does anyone in our village have relatives who own carriages?"
"The driver looks familiar…"
"Now that you mention it, where have we seen her before?"
The group of women stared at the woman steering the carriage, trying to place her.
Cai Damei slowed the horses as she reached the village entrance.
"Aunt Dahui, still as spry as ever, I see!"
"Damei!" Aunt Dahui recognized the voice instantly.
"It’s me, Cai Damei. I’m back," Cai Damei replied warmly.
"Damei, you’ve made your fortune in just a year! Riding in a carriage now!"
"Is that your grandson in Yunniang’s arms?"
"Of course he’s my grandson. You think I’d carry someone else’s?"
"Damei, you’ve gotten fairer. Life treating you well?"
"Working indoors in the city—no wind, no rain. Naturally, I’ve lightened up."
"What brings you back this time?"
"I brought Pan'er to see his father and grandfather. Let them know he can talk now—he can call out ‘Grandpa’ and ‘Dad.’"
"A child should visit his ancestors."
"Which one is Pan'er? Why two children?"
"The older one is my Pan'er. The little one belongs to the family I work for. The child can’t bear to be without me, so they let him come along. The family dotes on him—they even lent us the carriage for the trip."
"Your employers must be very kind."
"What do they do for a living?"
As if I’d tell you that.
"Is the village chief home?"
"He is."
...
Amid the chatter, Cai Damei guided the carriage to the village chief’s house.
Li Wenkuo was repairing a hoe when the lively voices and clip-clop of hooves reached him.
Stepping outside, he recognized Cai Damei immediately.
"Damei, you’re back."
"Yes, I’ve brought Yunniang and Pan'er with me." Cai Damei lifted Li Pan down from the carriage. "Pan'er, greet Grandpa Wen."
"Hello, Grandpa Wen. I’m Li Pan. You can call me Pan'er," the boy said politely.
"Good, good. Pan'er has grown so much." Li Wenkuo patted the child’s head, sighing inwardly. Li Min had missed hearing his grandson call him "Grandpa."
Ye Yunniang unloaded gifts from the carriage—meat, wine, pastries, and fine fabrics—handing them to Li Wenkuo’s wife, Aunt Guihua.
Aunt Guihua gaped at the luxurious silk, wiping her hands on her apron before gingerly touching it. "Is this… silk?"
"Jinluo fabric—light and breathable. Perfect for summer clothes. Mother said you suffer most in the heat, so she brought this from Jiangcheng just for you," Ye Yunniang explained.
"Oh my, at my age, I’ve no business wearing something so fine!" Aunt Guihua waved her hands in protest.
"Why ever not?"
