by our family. Even a blade of grass on the hilltop has changed its surname to Zong."So, from today onwards, anyone going up the mountain to work is forbidden from taking any items from the mountains...Fang Jinshi said affirmatively, “From the moment they made me sign the indenture, I was no longer a member of the Fang family.”

"I won't go back, and I won't go back to help Fang Jianren clean up the mess."

The little grass lowered its head silently, and said in a very small voice, "Actually, I don't want Second Sister to go back either."

Fang Jinxiu touched her younger sister's head. Xiao Cao nestled in her elder sister's arms, rubbing contentedly.

It's good that my second sister is alright.

Zong Bai felt a pang of sympathy for his sister-in-law and the frail little girl in her belly. She was even thinner than when his sister-in-law first arrived at their home.

"Sister-in-law, your parents are too much! Little Grass is so young and frail. Even if they want her to come home and help, they shouldn't make her do it."

The son's words struck Mu Shi right in the heart. She was just about to say it herself.

"Indeed, who among the villagers living at the foot of this wild mountain wouldn't know how dangerous it is This is going too far."

Fang Jinshu sneered. In the eyes of her family, her daughter's life was as insignificant as a weed.

If they truly cared about Xiaocǎo, they wouldn't have made her come alone.

Yu Lian looked at the girl's sallow complexion and frowned. When she learned that the girl was her sister-in-law's younger sister, she was quite worried.

I'm worried that once my sister-in-law has a younger sister, she won't see me anymore or treat me well.

Yu Lian knew that she shouldn't think that way, so she didn't say much all afternoon.

Now that I've heard about Xiao Cao's experiences at home, any imbalance I felt has disappeared.

At least, she had her loving mother and brothers growing up, while Little Caotang, besides her sister-in-law, had nothing.

Even her own parents didn't care about her life, they let such a young girl trek across the mountains alone to find her sister-in-law.

She completely disregarded her own life.

Little Grass sister is so pitiful.

Jade Lotus walked over and took Xiaocao's hand.

"Little sister Xiaocao, don't worry. Those who survive great calamities will surely have good fortune in the future. You don't need to concern yourself with those troubles at your home anymore. Since you're out now, just stay with us and live a good life."

"My mother and brothers are all very nice, they will definitely treat you like their own daughter or sister."

"You're your sister-in-law, and from now on, you'll be my sister too. My name is Yulian, so just call me Sister Yulian."

Little Grass was always timid and didn't dare to get too close to others, while Jade Lotus had a big, open, and enthusiastic personality.

Fang Jinshu originally wanted to encourage Xiaochao with a few words, but unexpectedly this girl actually took the initiative to hold Yulian's hand and nodded in response to her words.

"Yu Lian Jie," the voice was still very soft.

Yu Lian smiled contentedly.

Turning around, he said proudly to Mu Shi, "Haha, mother! Now I'm not the youngest in our family anymore, I have a little sister now!"

Mu frowned and pointed at her. "Don't scare Xiaocǎo."

She could tell that the young girl was more timid in personality, quite unlike her daughter-in-law.

But he should be a good child, too.

Little Grass leaned against Fang Jinshi's embrace and chatted with the Zong family for a while. Most of the time, it was Yu Lian and Zong Bai chattering away, and she occasionally nodded or shook her head in response.

In just half an hour of being together, when it was time to sleep at night, Xiaocǎo whispered to her elder sister.

"Second sister, I like this place."

"My sister-in-law's family is so nice."

Fang Jinshi smiled, "If you like them, stay. They're really good people. From now on, your second sister won't let you suffer anymore. I keep my promises."

She finished speaking, but there was no response around her. She turned her head and saw that the girl had already fallen asleep.

Little Grass ended up living at the Zong family's home. Due to her physical condition, no one in the Zong family would ask her to do any work.

But the little grass couldn't stay idle, and it also felt awkward to just laze around. It always tried to compete with the three girls for work.

Xiaoyue was quite helpless and reported the matter to Fang Jinxiu.

"Alright, Little Grass really wants to work, so let her do it."

Household chores are fine, but leaving her idle all the time isn't good either.

The little grass was so pleased with her second sister's praise that she couldn't contain her joy. Her tiny body flitted around the courtyard, helping out wherever needed. When Xiao Yue and the others were cooking, she was there. When they were washing clothes, she was there too.

Even when picking vegetables in the vegetable patch under the jade lotus, this girl would follow along, essentially becoming the little tail of a few people in the family.

The weather is getting colder and colder. Autumn is almost over, and in about ten days it will be the winter solstice.

This period, Fang Jinshu has been quite busy. The winter food reserves are almost enough, but the mountain villa is still the most important. Every day, Li Muhua and the others have to work overtime under hard labor.

To speed things up, Fang Jinshu dispatched the team of iron pillar that was originally clearing land to Li Laosi. With more people, work progressed a little faster.

Because she was too busy, she overlooked something.

That day, Fangjinxiu had been busy all day and was just about to head home when Xiaohua, the little dog who usually patrolled around the manor, suddenly acted strangely. She bit Fangjinxiu's skirt and pulled her up the mountain.discussed, Fang Jinshi didn't rush to leave. She wore an expression of wanting to speak but holding back.Village Chief Wang knew what she wanted to ask and waved his hand at her directly."It's none of...