Chapter 295 - Chapter 295: Chapter 303: Waiting for an Explanation (2/2)

Su Wenyue questioned Mrs. Li, “Does your mother’s family have a lot?”

“Yes, indeed. My mother’s family owns several large bamboo forests with plenty of shoots to dig. It’s just that not many people care for eating them. Besides, they cause heartburn if you eat too many, and even the poorest households don’t favor them. They just spoil in the ground, unused. I never imagined you’d be interested in them.”

Hearing this, Su Wenyue had a new idea, “Second sister-in-law, if that’s the case, you should dig up more and send them not to Xinluo Town but to our estate outside the prefecture city. It’s a bit further, but we will pay extra for the transportation.”

“Do you really need so much? Fourth younger sister-in-law, what do you want with all these bamboo shoots? If you’re tired of eating other things, it’s good to try new flavors once in a while, but it’s not good to eat too much of them. Don’t let anyone fool you; even though they last a while, there’s still a limit. Don’t waste your silver buying too much only to see them go uneaten,” Mrs. Li said with some concern. Although it would be beneficial for her mother’s family to provide a lot of bamboo shoots, she couldn’t stand by idly if the fourth daughter-in-law was being cheated.

“Second sister-in-law, don’t worry. I have my uses for the bamboo shoots, and I won’t be scammed. However, since this was a spur-of-the-moment thought, there may not be enough time, especially since Laba Festival has already passed and the weather is getting colder. After it snows, it will be difficult to dig for the shoots. So we’re in a rush to collect more. Since there are plenty at your end, why not mobilize everyone to dig together? Let’s entrust this task to your mother’s family, can they handle it?”

With Su Wenyue confirming that she had a use for the bamboo shoots, Mrs. Li wisely refrained from asking further. Knowing the fourth daughter-in-law’s resourcefulness and her background as a young rich lady, she was broad-minded. What seemed useless to others could turn into something valuable through the fourth daughter-in-law’s hands. Hearing Su Wenyue express her trust in entrusting the work to her mother’s family, Mrs. Li couldn’t be happier, as gathering the shoots wasn’t a difficult task.

“Of course, that can be done. I’ll send word to my mother’s family right away, so they’ll dig up more shoots before it snows. We will not delay.”

Mrs. Li appeared to be quite proactive, ready to go, but Su Wenyue stopped her.

“Second sister-in-law, wait a moment, there’s something else I need to tell you.” Su Wenyue continued to explain some details about collecting the bamboo shoots to Mrs. Li. Considering the effort and the favors that would be required of Mrs. Li to find help, Su Wenyue decided instead to have a servant take her back to her mother’s family by horse carriage. Mrs. Li’s family was not too far from Xinhe Village; it would take less than half an hour to reach by carriage.

Han Yu had gone out and didn’t return until the evening; he wasn’t even back for dinner. However, he had sent someone to update his whereabouts. It was almost dark before his figure was seen.

“What have you been doing that you’re only returning now?”

“I went to see Ah Shuang and took care of some other matters. Did second sister-in-law come to you with something this afternoon?” Han Yu spoke evasively and changed the subject by asking about Mrs. Li’s visit. Although he had promised not to keep secrets from Su Wenyue, there were darker matters Han Yu preferred to keep from her.

Su Wenyue didn’t press for details, trusting that Han Yu knew what he was doing. What concerned her more was Han Yu’s promise to his father-in-law and mother-in-law that Han Lin’s family would also go to the prefecture city for New Year. She was waiting for Han Yu’s explanation.