Chapter 54 Do you like me?

When Ye Wan turned around, a one-eyed old woman was staring straight at her, which made her feel uneasy.

"Don't be afraid, it's Granny Wu," Lin Anyuan said in a low voice.

Who is Granny Wu?

Ye Wan glanced at her again and saw the one-eyed old woman smiling at her, which looked even more eerie.

She suppressed her suspicions and looked up at Lin Anyuan, who was still wearing a straw hat and staring at the two constables standing on the rock.

The two constables, spitting as they spoke, announced, "I'm giving you advance notice today. You'll be coming to collect taxes tomorrow. Those without grain will pay ten taels of silver per person..."

"What, ten taels?"

"How can there be so much? Didn't we say it would be two taels of silver per person? Ten taels is going to kill us!"

The crowd immediately became agitated.

"Quiet down! This is all the order from above. Anyone who dares to say another word will be killed on the spot!"

The two officers pulled out their knives, and instantly no one spoke; some even began to sob quietly.

Standing in the crowd, Ye Wan experienced for the first time what oppressive government and exorbitant taxes meant.

Ten taels of silver is a sum that even a well-off farming family couldn't save in a year, let alone a large family.

At this moment, Lin Anyuan suddenly spoke in a low voice, "Why don't the officials collect taxes from the wealthy households first? The wealthy households are a hundred times richer than us ordinary people; one person is worth dozens of villages."

A man nearby muttered a complaint, "Yes, the Zhang family is quite wealthy. I heard they recently took in their ninth wife, and their cellar is full of gold."

"They're really rich. Even a small amount they flaunt is enough for us ordinary people to live on for a lifetime. Sigh, how are we going to pay this ten taels of silver tax..."

The two officials on the stone exchanged a glance.

The two men made an excuse to let the villagers prepare first, and then went to the next village to notify them.

Ye Wan was initially puzzled as to why Lin Anyuan suddenly brought up Zhang Fuhu, but now that she realized the problem, she tugged at Lin Anyuan's sleeve.

"I know you're in a hurry, but don't rush, let's talk when we get home." Lin Anyuan grabbed Ye Wan's hand.

Ye Wan's heart skipped a beat.

Just as he was about to speak, the one-eyed old woman walked over. "Little An Yuan, is this your wife?"

Xiao Anyuan? Hahaha, Ye Wan wanted to laugh.

"Mm." Lin Anyuan responded, but his hand tightened around hers, and his smile vanished instantly.

"Okay, okay, bring me home for a meal sometime." Grandma Wu said these two sentences before leaving.

"My goodness! I was terrified! What's that old hag Wu doing here?! How come she's still alive?!"

A woman cried out in surprise and then began to curse the one-eyed old man.

Ye Wan overheard the cursing and got the gist of it. This old woman, Wu, was a wicked person. Years ago, she abused her daughter-in-law. Her husband and son both died on the mountain, and her daughter-in-law gouged out one of her eyes and remarried.

Judging from what he just said, Lin Anyuan seems to regard her as an elder?

"Aunt Wang, wait a moment, I have something to say." Upon seeing Aunt Wang, Ye Wan hurriedly shook off Lin Anyuan's hand.

Aunt Wang glanced at Ye Wan and said in a rather unfriendly tone, "Don't talk to me anymore. I don't have any more sweet potatoes to sell you. My family is really unlucky."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Lin Anyuan made sarcastic remarks from the side, "You bought her sweet potatoes, and now her family can't afford to pay the taxes, so naturally they resent you."

"It was a mutually agreeable transaction, and I paid for it," Ye Wan said calmly.

She went to Aunt Wang simply to ask if she wanted to return the sweet potatoes she still had, but she didn't expect her to react this way.

"You're so naive." Lin Anyuan scoffed and walked back.

Human nature is the most complex thing.

Wherever he passed, the crowds automatically dispersed, as if he were some kind of ferocious beast in troubled waters.

Ye Wan followed, and only spoke when they were in a secluded spot, "Did you deliberately say those things just now to send two constables to Zhang Fu's house?"

She had sensed something was wrong earlier; why did Lin Anyuan suddenly bring up Zhang Fuhu's family?

Lin Anyuan suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Did I say that? Don't make baseless accusations."

Ye Wan took a breath and changed the subject, "Who is that Granny Wu? Is she your elder?"

"Um."

Lin Anyuan responded and continued walking forward.

Ye Wan was speechless. Would it kill her to say one more word? She's sharp-tongued when she shouldn't speak, but becomes mute when she should.

When I got home, Daya had already prepared dinner.

After being personally taught by her, Daya's cooking has become quite delicious.

After dinner, Ye Wan followed Lin Anyuan into the house. "I still have to set up my stall tomorrow, can I still go?"

There were plenty of vermicelli in the space, and since she had nothing to do at home, she went to town and also visited her godmother's house.

“Yes, I’ll go with you.” Lin Anyuan took off his outer robe and lay down on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Ye Wan raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you going out?"

“Weren’t you looking forward to my return? Since you miss me, I’ll naturally spend the night with you.” Lin Anyuan turned to look at Ye Wan, a smile in his eyes.

Ye Wan's heart skipped a beat, and she mimicked Lin Anyuan's tone, "It's not dark yet, stop dreaming."

Lin Anyuan: ...

Then he stared at Ye Wan for a long time, and suddenly laughed.

"What are you laughing at?" Ye Wan felt a chill run down her spine.

Lin Anyuan rolled off the kang (a heated brick bed) and walked up to Ye Wan. "Do you like me? Hmm?"

Ye Wan's heart skipped a beat, and she smiled, "I do like you a little, you're quite good-looking."

"Tch, you should really wash your eyes."

Lin Anyuan suddenly scoffed, quickly put on his outer robe, and left.

Ye Wan: ...

Neuropathy.

He cursed Lin Anyuan a thousand times in his heart and marked it with a big red cross.

This person is good-looking, but that's all they have to offer; they have no other redeeming qualities.

"Mother," Sanya stood at the door, looking at Ye Wan expectantly, "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

Looking at Sanya, Ye Wan's budding feelings for Lin Anyuan were completely shattered.

She's still a blank slate, preferring clean-cut men. As for the father of someone else's child, forget it, just look at him and that's enough.

"What's wrong with Sanya? Why are you crying?" Ye Wan squatted down and noticed that Sanya's eyes were red and teary.

"Mother, my second sister said I wasn't born from you." Sanya grabbed Ye Wan's hand. "Mother, is it true?"

Ye Wan wanted to tell the truth, but was afraid of hurting the child's young heart, so she changed her approach, "Tell me, am I good to you?"

"Yes, Mother is the best."

"Then besides me, who else treats you the best?"

"father."

"I was born of Mother. Second Sister is lying. Mother, I love you the most." Sanya happily hugged Ye Wan.

Er Ya, who was watching from the doorway next door, muttered, "Sycophant."

Ye Wan picked up Sanya and clicked her tongue, "You're just jealous, aren't you?"

Er Ya snorted and went back inside.

What's so great about her? She's not my biological mother.