Chapter 181 Danger is coming

Aunt Jiang followed Madam Ye's gaze and understood her intention.

She looked at Ye Jingchuan and said, "Master, the eldest lady has a cart that can give the old lady a ride."

Ye Jingchuan looked embarrassed, "There are so many things on the cart, it can't carry anyone."

He did not tell anyone about the breakup with Ye Chutang.

I originally wanted to announce it to the world after I became a marquis.

Make Ye Chutang regret it!

As a result, not only did he fail to become a marquis, but his property was confiscated and he was exiled.

In this situation now, he didn't want anyone to know that he and Ye Chutang had broken off the relationship.

Because of his marriage relationship with the Qi family, the officials would more or less give him some face.

Aunt Jiang didn't know what Ye Jingchuan was thinking, and glared at Ye Chutang unhappily.

"A married daughter is like spilled water. The old lady is so sick, but the young lady is indifferent. She is too unfilial."

Ye Jingchuan looked at Aunt Jiang warningly and scolded her.

"shut up!"

Old Madam Ye knew that Ye Jingchuan and Ye Chutang did not have a good relationship.

She could understand that her son didn't want to give in.

"Chuan'er, you don't have to say anything. Mom will go talk to Chu'er."

Ye Jingchuan quickly objected, saying in an urgent tone, "Mom, please don't cause trouble for Chu'er."

Madam Ye didn't care.

"Mother has seen that the Qi family is now headed by Chu'er. It's just a matter of her saying something to make room for the cart. It won't cause much trouble."

"mother……"

Ye Jingchuan wanted to stop him, but was interrupted by Wu Chenggang.

"Old lady, please go quickly. If you delay any longer, we will have to sleep in the wilderness."

Ye Jingchuan said quickly: "Sir, the two elders of the Qi family didn't take the cart, so I can't let my mother take it. I can just carry her on my back."

Madam Ye snorted coldly, "If I let you bear the responsibility, both of us will die on the road to exile!"

After saying that, she closed her open coat, buttoned it up, and stood up shakily.

"Jiang, help me over there."

Ye Jingchuan wanted to stop him, but Wu Chenggang warned him with his eyes.

He had no choice but to shut up and pray that Ye Chutang would still care about family ties.

After all, family ties can be severed, but blood ties cannot!

Aunt Jiang supported Old Madam Ye and walked towards Ye Chutang.

Ye Chutang was resting not far from the Ye family and could hear their conversation clearly.

She raised the corners of her lips in mockery, looking at the two people approaching.

Before Madam Ye could even speak shamelessly, she refused, "You want to take a cart? Forget it."

Madam Ye was stunned for a moment and her face darkened.

She said sarcastically, "Chu'er, only a beast would be so heartless!"

The implication was that if Ye Chutang didn't let her ride on the cart, he would be a beast.

Ye Chutang nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, it's a beast!"

All members of the Ye family deserve the word "beast".

Seeing that her method of provoking the opponent was useless, Old Lady Ye immediately changed her strategy and pretended to be pitiful.

"Oh! My life is so miserable. I am almost dying of illness, but I can't even get a little love from my own granddaughter. I might as well just die!"

This would be very useful if we were in a crowded place in the capital.

Beichen Kingdom places great emphasis on filial piety. If one is unfilial, not only will one be scolded, but one will also be thrown into prison.

Therefore, few people dare to bear this reputation, for fear of being criticized and having no place to stand.

But now in the wilderness, no one blamed Ye Chutang on behalf of Old Madam Ye, and her wailing sounded like a joke.

"Madam Ye, you should save your energy and use it for walking."

As soon as Ye Chutang finished speaking, Wu Chenggang walked over.

"Mrs. Qi, please clear a seat on the cart for the old lady to sit on."

Hearing his commanding tone, Ye Chutang retorted.

"She and I have no relationship, why?"

As soon as these words came out, Ye Jingchuan became anxious.

He immediately came over and tried to pull Madam Ye away, but she pushed him away.

"Chuan'er, what are you doing with mom?"

"Mom, stop making trouble. Since Chu'er doesn't want to, forget it. I can carry you on my back."

Madam Ye ignored Ye Jingchuan and asked Ye Chutang sternly, "What did you mean by what you just said?"

What does it mean to have no relatives or friends?

Could it be that the bitch Tang Wanning gave birth to a bastard?

Thinking of this, she didn't wait for Ye Chutang to answer, but immediately grabbed Ye Jingchuan's arm and asked.

"Who is that wild man?"

Ye Jingchuan: “???”

Before he could react, Ye Chutang, who understood what he said, slapped Madam Ye in the face.

The force was so great that two teeth flew out.

Old Madam Ye was stunned.

The burning pain on her face brought her back to her senses, and she raised her hand to slap Ye Chutang in the face.

"Bastard! You are rebelling!"

Her mouth was full of blood, and when she opened her mouth, blood spurted out.

Ye Chutang aimed at her hand and pulled it off with a "snap".

Then he slapped Old Man Ye in the face with his backhand.

Two bloody teeth flew into the bushes and disappeared.

Old Madam Ye's face swelled up at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the fingerprints were clearly visible.

She stared blankly at her powerless hands, then belatedly let out a scream.

"ah!"

Aunt Jiang looked at the miserable appearance of Old Madam Ye and angrily scolded Ye Chutang.

"Miss, how can you beat your elders?"

Ye Siyin said righteously, "Sister, Beichen Country values ​​filial piety..."

Ye Chutang didn't want to listen to Ye Siyin's preaching, so he interrupted her.

"Only elders can talk about filial piety!"

After saying that, she reached into her sleeve pocket and took out the letter of severance from the space.

"I have severed my relationship with Ye Jingchuan a long time ago. Madam Ye is not my elder, so how can I talk about filial piety?"

Old Madam Ye looked at the letter of severance of engagement that was thrust before her in disbelief.

"This...when did this happen?"

Her face was swollen, her speech was incoherent, and she slowly turned her head to look at Ye Jingchuan.

"Is this letter of severance true?"

At this point, Ye Jingchuan could only nod in acknowledgment.

"It's true. Chu'er thinks that I killed her mother and brother, and abandoned her in the countryside without caring about her. I am not worthy of being a father."

When Old Madam Ye heard this, she immediately confused right and wrong.

"Tang Wanning and the eldest son were both killed by Kong Ru. What does it have to do with you? You sent Chu'er to the countryside because you didn't want her to be treated harshly by her stepmother. What's wrong with that?"

Qi Yanzhou walked up to Ye Chutang and held her hand.

"To favor a concubine and kill a wife is wrong. To be ungrateful is wrong. To give birth to a child but not raise him is wrong. To allow a slave to bully his master is wrong. To marry someone else is wrong on top of wrong."

After saying that, he snorted coldly.

"What's the point of having such a selfish and vicious father? This relationship is broken off at the right time!"

Old Madam Qi also stood up to support Ye Chutang.

"Although Beichen Country respects filial piety, it also states that the father should be kind first and the son should be filial second. If a country has never been kind to its children, why should its children be filial first?"

Mr. Qi then spoke.

"Since we are no longer related, we are just strangers from now on. Don't get involved with us."

Ye Jingchuan was embarrassed by the scolding and said quickly, "Mom, I'll carry you on my back."

After saying that, he pulled Madam Ye back to the Ye family’s location.

Old Madam Ye’s hand was dislocated, her mouth was full of blood, and her screams were weak.

"Chuan'er, Mom is dying, please save her."

Wu Chenggang finished watching the farce, glanced at Ye Chutang, and walked in front of Old Madam Ye.

He took her hand and undid the shackles for Ye Jingchuan.

"Set off!"

Although the journey was slow, there were no more accidents.

When they arrived at the post station, it was an hour later than Wu Chenggang expected and it was already dark.

When Ye Jingchuan saw his destination, he let out a breath of relief.

He was so exhausted that his legs went limp and he fell to the ground.

“Bang, bang, bang!”

Wu Chenggang banged on the door of the post station, "Someone, open the door!"

The postmaster and the postman were drinking in the lobby.

When I heard the knock on the door, I immediately guessed who it was.

He put down the wine glass in his hand and told the postman, "There are many officials staying here today, so go and prepare more dishes."

After saying this, the postmaster went to open the door.

Wu Chenggang handed the exile document in his hand to the postmaster.

After the postmaster had looked at it, he immediately opened the door and said, "Gentlemen, please come in."

Because the post station was close to the capital, it was built relatively large and could barely accommodate more than a hundred people.

Seven carts were left outside the post station.

One belonged to the Qi family, and the rest belonged to the officials, and were guarded by postmen.

Han Chong, the leader of the Dragon Guard, arranged thirty people to guard outside the post station to prevent the Qi family from escaping.

The rest of the people went into the yard.

There were too many people to fit in the lobby, so many people sat in the corridor to rest.

The Qi, Zhao and Ye families could only sit on the ground.

Except for Ye Chutang and Qi Yanzhou, everyone else's feet were covered with blisters.

After the blood blister was crushed, it stuck to the socks and it was excruciatingly painful when touched.

Ye Jingchuan lay on the ground motionless. If it weren't for the rise and fall of his chest, one would have thought he was dead.

Wu Cheng had just sat in the lobby and told the postmaster, "Hurry up and prepare the wine and food."

"The postman has gone to prepare, but there are many officials today, so I'm afraid we'll have to wait a while. There are rest rooms on the second and third floors."

"It's okay. Is the room empty?"

"No, there are five rooms on the second and third floors, and three more in the backyard."

The post station had never had so many officials come at once, so the postmaster had to vacate his and the postmen's rooms.

Even so, there are not enough rooms.

He had done what he was supposed to do, and how the rooms were allocated had nothing to do with him.

Wu Chenggang discussed it with Han Chong.

He asked for two rooms on the third floor.

Although it was a bit crowded for five people to share a room, it was better than sitting on the ground in the open air and being bitten by mosquitoes.

Han Chong had no objection, "Okay, leave the guarding task to me."

After saying that, he went to arrange the rotation.

Wu Chenggang poured himself a glass of wine, and after drinking it, he went to the yard and arranged a place for the three families to rest.

"The Ye family lives in the stable, the Qi family sleeps in the front yard, and the Zhao family sleeps in the back yard."

Although the stable could shelter from wind and rain, it smelled bad and was full of mosquitoes, making it the worst of the three locations.

The front yard is large and can accommodate more people for rest, making it a perfect place to visit the Qi family.

After making the arrangements, Wu Chenggang asked his men to distribute black dough balls and pickles.

Still no one wants it.

He didn't force it and said, "There's a well in the backyard."

Zhao Mingxu's wife Zhu Rong immediately asked, "Sir, is there a place to bathe in the post station?"

After walking for a day, the clothes were already soaked with sweat, dirty and smelly.

There were bathtubs in the rooms of the post station, but they could not be used by prisoners.

"Figure it out yourself."

After Wu Chenggang finished speaking, he went into the lobby and drank some wine and ate peanuts.

Zhu Rong couldn't stand the filth and stench, so she limped off to find the postmaster.

She spent one or two taels of silver in exchange for three buckets of hot water and the opportunity for her family to take a shower in the utility room.

"Master, the post station is not available to sell us food right now. How about moving our luggage to the backyard first?"

Zhao Mingxu didn't want to move and waved his hands weakly.

"Let's take a break first. I'm really tired."

After resting for a while, Ye Chutang stood up.

"Azhou, go and say hello to the official and let us go outside the post station to cook."

Even though the two elders of the Qi family drank the spiritual spring water, they were still very tired and had to eat something good to replenish their bodies.

Qi Yanzhou went to find Wu Chenggang, and the two were allowed to go out and cook.

Just as Ye Chutang was about to call Qi Yanzhou, Aunt Xu said, "Madam, let me help you."

"That's fine."

She and Aunt Xu went outside the post station.

Two lanterns were hung at the entrance of the post station, and the dim light illuminated the small area.

Ye Chutang took a wooden barrel from the cart.

"Auntie, give it to Azhou and ask him to fetch a bucket of water."

Aunt Xu left with the wooden barrel, and Ye Chutang took out the vegetables he bought yesterday.

The weather is hot and some vegetables have rotted, but potatoes, which are easy to store, are fine.

The fried meatballs were fragrant and not bad.

She also took out a large piece of braised beef from the space.

When Aunt Xu came back after delivering the bucket, she saw Ye Chutang moving the cooking utensils and hurried forward to help.

Ye Chutang refused and said, "Auntie, you cook the dishes. We can work together and be more efficient."

"Okay, I'll make what to eat tonight."

Aunt Xu is a young lady from an official family who has never been involved in women's affairs.

She occasionally cooked for Mr. Qi, but it was just a hobby between husband and wife.

And it was completed with the help of the maid.

So, even with Ye Chutang's instructions, she still made a mess of everything and was almost crying in frustration.

Qi Yanzhou brought a bucket of water over, stood at the entrance of the post station and said, "Auntie, give me the vegetables."

When he was away from home, Jingcheng cooked for himself.

Although his cooking was not very tasty, he knew how to prepare various dishes.

Aunt Xu felt embarrassed and carried the dishes to the door.

"Second Master, I want to help too. Please teach me."

"Okay, give the water to Atang first."

Ye Chutang quickly prepared everything needed for cooking.

An iron pot is placed on a triangular bracket as high as the calf.

The washing basin was turned upside down on the ground, with seasonings for cooking and a chopping board for cutting vegetables placed at the bottom of the basin.

She cut the braised beef into thin slices and prepared a bowl of sauce.

I also cut some ginger and garlic to use for cooking.

With Qi Yanzhou's help, the dishes were quickly prepared.

While Aunt Xu was washing vegetables, Ye Chutang started a fire with the dead branches he had picked up at noon.

The dead branches were lit, and she asked, "Can Auntie cut vegetables?"

Aunt Xu shook her head awkwardly, "I've seen it, but I haven't cut it."

She felt like a fool, she knew nothing!

Ye Chutang had guessed this result long ago.

In ancient times, it was not just men who stayed away from the kitchen, but also the daughters of the rich and powerful.

She said softly, "If you don't know how, you can learn slowly, but it's too late today. I'll chop the vegetables and you make the meatball soup."

After hearing this, Aunt Xu wished she could find a hole to crawl into.

"I...I don't know how either."

"I'll teach you."

After Ye Chutang finished speaking, he stuffed the spoon into Aunt Xu's hand and picked up a sharp kitchen knife.

Exiled prisoners were not allowed to carry sharp weapons.

The Qi family's situation was special, so the officials did not intervene.

Ye Chutang was cutting potatoes into shreds while observing the situation in the pot.

Seeing that she was multitasking, Aunt Xu was afraid that she would cut her fingers, so she tightened her grip on the spatula.

"Auntie, heat up the pot. Add half a spoonful of oil. When the oil starts to smoke, add some ginger and garlic to stir-fry until fragrant. Then put a large bowl of water in the pot."

"well."

Although Aunt Xu's movements were stiff, she followed Ye Chutang's instructions meticulously without any mistakes.

When the water was poured into the pot, Ye Chutang also cut the potatoes into shreds.

She soaked the shredded potatoes in water to remove the starch.

"Aunt, I'll do the rest. You listen carefully, watch carefully, and remember it in your heart."

Aunt Xu quickly handed the spoon to Ye Chutang.

"Don't worry, Madam. I will definitely learn to cook diligently."

Ye Chutang explained in detail while cooking, and soon the two dishes and one soup were ready.

Garlic greens, spicy and sour potato shreds, meatball soup and braised beef.

There aren't many types of dishes, but the portions are quite large.

After preparing the dishes, she boiled water and cooked rice.

Aunt Xu sat aside, silently remembering how Ye Chutang cooked.

She had a good memory and memorized it quickly.

While the rice was still wet, she practiced her knife skills with the potato slices she had peeled earlier.

Ye Chutang noticed that there was something wrong with the way she held the knife and gave her some pointers.

Aunt Xu smiled and said, "It's really easy and convenient to hold the knife this way."

After saying this, she looked at Ye Chutang with admiration.

"Madam knows everything. It's really admirable."

Ye Chutang looked at the boiling rice soup in the pot and thought of the tortured original owner.

"The more you know, the more you have to suffer. Compared to suffering, I would rather be a child who never grows up."

She said this on behalf of the original owner.

After all, in ancient times, women didn’t need to have too many skills. It was enough to have someone who loved them and had someone to rely on.

After hearing Ye Chutang's words, Qi Yanzhou, who was standing at the entrance of the post station, felt very sorry for her previous experience.

She felt guilty when she thought that he was also making her suffer.

Aunt Xu knew something about Ye Chutang and said, "Madam will surely have her happy ending after all the hardships."

Although she was exiled, she believed that the Qi family had a backup plan and would not be defeated!

Ye Chutang nodded affirmatively, "Of course."

After saying that, she scooped up a spoonful of rice soup.

Seeing that the rice was cooked through, she used a bamboo dustpan to separate the rice soup, then poured the rice into the pot and simmered it over low heat.

"Auntie, the rice will be ready soon, bring the dishes in first."

Aunt Xu served the dishes while Ye Chutang cleaned up the seasonings and chopping board.

After cleaning up the things on the wooden basin, use it as a table for dishes.

Soon, the fragrant rice came out of the pot.

The six people of the Qi family sat around the basin and feasted on the food.

The tempting aroma of the food made others drool.

Aunt Su and Aunt Gao looked at the dried meat and steamed buns in their hands and suddenly lost their appetite.

"It's so good. It would be nice if I could have a bowl of soup."

This was said by Aunt Su.

Aunt Gao knew that Aunt Su did it on purpose and wanted her to be the scapegoat, so she went to buy soup.

She swallowed the dried meat in her mouth and said, "I bought some summer heat relief pills at noon. Sister Su, would you like to buy some soup?"

This was said bluntly, and although Aunt Su was reluctant, she had no choice but to accept it.

"Okay, I'll go ask."

She endured the pain in her feet and staggered to Ye Chutang.

"Ma'am, are you selling this meatball soup?"

Ye Chutang said without even looking up: "If we can't finish it, we can certainly sell it, just wait."

The implication is that even if Aunt Su wanted to buy something, she could only buy leftovers.

She rolled her eyes, "I don't want it anymore."

Ye Chutang didn't care at all whether he could make some money.

"Love or not."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Jingchuan, who was lying on the ground, said, "If there is extra soup, I want it."

He was so hungry that his stomach was sticking to his back, but he had no appetite to eat the dry biscuits.

Ye Chutang did not refuse, "Okay."

It doesn’t matter who you sell it to.

As a result, the dishes she cooked were so delicious that Qi Hean couldn't stop eating.

Even though my stomach was full, I finished the last bowl of soup.

"belch!"

He touched his bloated belly and burped.

"Leave the pots and bowls to me."

Aunt Xu looked at her son who had become sensible and obedient, and said happily: "Mom will help you."

Ye Chutang stood up and said, "Boil some more hot water so we can take a bath later."

Taking a hot bath when you are extremely tired is such a pleasant experience.

The Qi family thought they had heard it wrong and raised questions.

"Take a bath?"

"Well, I bought a patchwork bathtub."

This was made along with the portable toilet by a carpentry shop in a hurry.

Qi Yanzhou heard this term for the first time and asked curiously, "What is a spliced ​​bathtub?"

Ye Chutang took out the bundled wooden boards from the cart and put them together to make a bathtub.

The joints are all mortise and tenon structures, and the connections are tight and will not leak.

Everyone was stunned.

Even Wu Chenggang, who was drinking in the lobby, said, "I've lived for more than 40 years, and this is the first time I've seen such a bathtub."

Ye Chutang smiled and said, "Because generally no one would bring a bathtub with them when they go out."

Without a market, naturally no one will sell.

When ordinary people go out and stay in an inn, they have bathtubs to use.

After Old Madam Qi praised Ye Chutang for a few words, she asked, "Chu'er, where are you going to bathe?"

"Spend some money and go to the utility room."

Qi Yanzhou hurried to find the postmaster.

Since he only needed the space and not hot water, he only spent one or two taels of silver.

Ye Chutang had nothing to do, so he strolled in the yard to digest his food.

Qi Yanzhou walked with her and held her hand as they walked.

He said in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Atang, even though we are only thirty miles away from the capital, the emperor should not make any moves, but you still have to be careful."

"I know. We'll each keep watch for half the night."

The emperor is so determined to destroy the Qi family that he may not act according to common sense.

Qi Yanzhou squeezed Ye Chutang's hand and said, "You have a good rest. My third brother, father and I will keep watch."

Mr. Qi's indulgence in sensual pleasures was all performed for the emperor to see.

Although his body was weak, he had a solid foundation in martial arts, so he had no problem keeping watch.

Ye Chutang needed more sleep and nodded.

"Okay, if you're too tired, wake me up."

Qi Yanzhou said nothing, his eyes fell on Ye Chutang's belly.

"Are you tired today?"

Ye Chutang knew what he was asking, and his features softened.

"I'm not tired, don't worry."

These words were not meant to comfort Qi Yanzhou, but were the truth.

She had earth-related abilities, so she wasn't tired at all from walking, though she felt a little hot from the sun.

Qi Yanzhou touched Ye Chutang's head, his eyes full of heartache.

"Don't be so stubborn. If you feel tired, I will carry you."

Ye Chutang leaned on Qi Yanzhou's shoulder and nodded.

"Okay, don't say you're tired when the time comes."

"Even if I carry you for my whole life, I won't get tired!"

As soon as he finished his affectionate confession, Qi Hean rushed over and said, "Second brother, second sister-in-law, the hot water is ready."

Qi Yanzhou let go of Ye Chutang's hand and said, "I'll go take a shower first."

He was worried that there was something wrong with the utility room and wanted to check it out first.

Ye Chutang had no objection, "Okay, go ahead."