Insufficient balance

  Shu Yu'er walked with a feeling of refreshment and clarity, just like the willow trees swaying in the spring breeze.

  It wasn't because she had just taken a hot bath to get rid of the fatigue from standing at attention. It was that Second Lieutenant Miao knew how to advance, and he knew when to retreat.

  "Hmm, I'm afraid this is all thanks to Teacher Martin. That dim-witted fellow has finally come around!"

  While thinking about these things, I quickly walked towards Liu Yuan with swift steps.

  As usual, other young women and married women would hide by the side of the road to pay their respects when they saw her, the number one beauty in the upper house.

  But today's girls and wives couldn't help but be surprised, secretly guessing in their hearts what happy event this Miss Yu had encountered.

  She has always been modest and courteous, gentle and kind. But what's wrong with her now? Look at her smiling face, she can't even return other people's greetings. Normally, when everyone meets Yuxiang, she is indeed very affectionate.

  Just look at her today, that kind of happy energy, sweet to the point where it's almost flowing out from the corners of her eyes. Although she's not smiling on her face, isn't the smile in her heart even sweeter?

  She took small steps very quickly, and if this house didn't have a roof, she would have flown up to the sky long ago.

  Watching Shu Yu'er's appearance, all the mothers-in-law were delighted for her one by one.

  Only those pretty girls of similar age would wrinkle their noses and speak with 70 or 80 percent jealousy.

  "Look at her, she must have just come out of the East Garden. Doesn't she remember that Master Wujie just gave her a horse? She's so fond of being with that Second Brother, I really don't know what she wants to do!"

  At this moment, after the sky had gradually darkened, San Niang, who was somewhat older, had already sat down at the dinner table. However, during dinner, Shu Yiner was nowhere to be seen.

  "Do you guys know where Yu'er went?"

  The little servant girl who was serving her rice stopped what she was doing and turned around to answer with a bow.

  "Regarding San Niang's words, Yu'er young lady went to the east room to supervise the second young master reading after lunch and hasn't returned yet. San Niang has something to instruct, I'll go call her now!"

  San Niang was somewhat unhappy, Shu Yu'er had always been her most capable and reliable maid.

  Many things are now ordered by her to let Shu Yiner do, so that as long as Shu Yiner is not around, there is no one to take care of the things in this house.

  "It's all right, I told Er-lang to study, it was I who ordered her to go! You attend to my meal!"

  Although she said so, all the girls were silent as cicadas in winter.

  San Niang is what kind of person, San Niang is a person beside the old master. Is the most outstanding one among the women brought by the old master from the Song Dynasty.

  Now that the family is in power, the young masters and estate owners are all very respectful, let alone these lower-ranking servants.

  The girls and the servant women exchanged glances with each other, serving San Niang's dinner as quickly as possible while hastily dispatching the housekeeper to find Shu Yu'er.

  Just then, he ran to find his wife and bumped into Shu Yiner who had just rushed back from the Science Park.

  "Yù niángzi, Sān niáng zhǎo nǐ ne, kàn qǐlái bù shàn ne!"

  Translation: "Miss Yu, Third Sister is looking for you, and she doesn't look too pleased!"

  "I understand, thank you!"

  Shu Yuner knew exactly what was going on in her heart. It was true that she had returned late from the Science and Technology Park. If she hadn't taken a bath, waiting for Zhao Fu to speak, she wouldn't have come back so late.

  Arriving at the entrance of the dining hall, Shu Yiner stopped in her tracks and took a deep breath. Then, as usual, with a respectful expression on her face, she concealed more than half of the joy in her heart.

  "Third Sister, I'm your servant..."

  Entering the house and bowing to San Niang, just as he was about to explain, San Niang spoke up.

  "Hmm, isn't Erlang not studying hard again? I heard that he hung a plaque on the garden gate, but it's called Science and Technology Garden. Alas, this kid only knows how to cause trouble, what's the point of being like his father back then... You sit down and tell me what kind of trouble he's causing in the garden!"

  Shu Yiner had no choice but to sit down on the stool beside San Niang for the time being, without mentioning anything else.

  This is San Niang's special favor to Shu Yu'er. Others... others all have to stand by and wait on her.

  "Yes, Third Sister. After Second Brother encountered bandits on the mountain last time and his horse was killed..."

  Shu Yuner originally wanted to emphasize that Zhao Fubo had been studying hard after he came back.

  The third daughter furrowed her brow unnoticeably, looking somewhat displeased, and put down the rice bowl in her hand.

  "Didn't the master of Zhaocun Village give him a horse? Is he using the excuse that the horse died to not even read books anymore?! If it's like this, then the people in his household must not be urging him on! Yu'er, you go back and scold him severely for me..."

  Three daughters are completely a model that gets more and more fierce as they speak, and it's also her, a woman, who manages such a large industry in the Zhao family, without any thunderous means, it's hard to suppress.

  Pressure has changed San Niang's personality a lot. At least Shu Yu'er can already feel it, and she will soon order someone to go and beat up the people in the east wing.

  Shu Yiner quickly got up and supported San Niang's shoulders, speaking in a voice like a daughter coaxing her mother.

  "Third sister... it's not like that. The few in Second Brother's house, although they're old and young, are still quite diligent. Second Brother has been reciting his books very well these past two days..."

  At this point in the conversation, Shu Yu'er unknowingly revealed her feelings for Zhao Fu-Bo.

  These naturally did not escape San Niang's eyes, she glanced at Shu Yu'er from the corner of her eye. In that slanted gaze, it seemed as if a smile had already appeared in her eyes.

  "It seems Erlang is fine, but I, this third daughter-in-law, am not doing well..."

  Yu'er's face turned bright red with just one sentence, and even her eyelids and eyebrows were smiling, showing off that lovely and adorable little girl look.

  "Third Sister, you're right, Second Brother is just a small fry, how can he compare to someone like you?"

  For Shu Yiner, San Niang had always been very fond of her. She stretched out her hand to stroke the small hand that Shu Yiner had placed on her shoulder, smiling as she exposed her little trick.

  "But I heard some young girls like that little squinty eyes!"

  "Third Daughter..."

  Shu Yuner gently swayed San Niang's body, and every day at dinner time, San Niang could have her own person around to coax and comfort her, and also relax her tired body and mind.

  "What's wrong, didn't I say it right? I was talking about that little cat! It's rare for Erlang to know your family's thoughts and buy such a pretty thing to coax you! I suppose he wants you to help him tell a few more lies to me, so he can avoid getting spanked twice!"

  After laughing for a while, Shu Yiner accompanied San Niang to finish her meal. After the maidservants cleared away the dishes and left, she was finally able to have a private conversation with San Niang over tea, at which point she brought up Zhao Fu's request.

  "Speaking of which, Er Lang has actually memorized a lot of books recently and his writing skills have improved a lot compared to before. He also..."

  At this time, San Niang suddenly mentioned another matter which seemed unrelated to this affair.

  "Yu'er, doesn't Erlang resent me for occupying this willow garden and driving him to live in the horse stable?"

  "This... San Niang, how can you say this? How dare Er Lang resent San Niang? Besides, you know, he is... he is..."

  Shu Yu'er was about to take advantage of San Niang's excitement and ask Zhao Fu Bo for a gun, but suddenly she was asked such a question, and for a moment she couldn't think of an answer.

  "Yu'er, you don't have to say these words, I know you have him in your heart. But you must understand that a man who can't take charge of the family is useless. If he still likes to indulge in martial arts like before, how can he become the pillar of this family's future?"

  As for your future, it's either being with a man from the Zhang family or becoming the mistress of the Zhang family but marrying to Dalang.

  The reason is clear. If you add your father's Ruiyu Villa to the Difeng Villa, which is managed by Father and son, then the Zhao family will still be the unshakeable Zhao family.

  Yuner, be honest with me, have you ever thought about these things?

  Shu Yiner didn't know what San Niang was thinking, but she said these words to herself tonight. As for these things, although she had already guessed some possibilities, she never took them seriously in her heart.

  "This..."

  The third daughter looked at her bewildered expression and gently shook her head.

  "Yu'er, don't say that San Niang is heartless. Although if Er Lang really doesn't have any prospects and you two are really separated, you must remember that the Zhao family is not just an ordinary wealthy family. If you really do take over the household one day, be sure to remember that personal relationships between children cannot compare to this family!"

  "If you can do this, I will grant the request you made on behalf of Er Lang today. If not, you can go back to your Ruiyu Zhuang, and if so, you and Er Lang may never meet again in this life."

  These words made Shu Yu'er, who was originally happy for Er Lang, become disheartened and confused, as if she had been hit by a heavy club.

  She didn't expect that her little trick was completely seen through by San Niang, and even used this matter to force her to take on the responsibility of Zhao's family future.

  Maybe other girls want this blessing, but Shu Yuner isn't someone who hasn't thought about it.

  She had thought that if Er Lang really couldn't read books, she would never again be infatuated with the position of head of the Zhao family.

  Only called Father to take her and Er Lang together to Ruiyu Villa, to spend those lively days like a god. But San Niang's words just now have blocked this road tightly.

  A line of clear tears rolled down Shu Yu'er's delicate cheek, and for the first time, she felt worried about her fate.

  "Yu'er, it's up to you now! If you give up on asking for Er Lang's sake, then this matter can be dropped!"

  After finishing speaking, a pair of bright and clear eyes stared tightly at Shu Yu'er, as if waiting for her final decision.

  At this time, Shu Yuner suddenly wiped away her tears, as if she had made a resolute decision. She knelt down in front of San Niang, and there was no longer any sorrow or hesitation on her face.

  "Third Sister, I, Yu'er, make a solemn vow before you: if Second Brother is not a useful person and our family does not have a son who excels in both literature and martial arts, then I will follow your advice, Third Sister, and marry Eldest Brother to preserve the Zhao family's legacy! If I break this vow, then...then let me..."

  After talking for half a day, Shu Yu'er couldn't think of an oath, but San Niang took over on her behalf.

  "I'll make sure you and Erlang never meet again!"

  As soon as these words came out, Shu Yiner was stunned, could she really bear it?