Chapter 34

Many things became easier to talk about after Zhou Jingchen came back.

Ye Jia had just finished preparing the meal, and since Zhou Jingchen hadn't eaten yet, he hurried back to check on the situation at home. So, they sat down to eat together. At the table, Ye Jia announced the family's decision to relocate. If they were moving, they had to explain the reasons. Ye Jia then elaborated on his suspicions and concerns about the bandits' retaliation. Since the move would inevitably require the use of Old Man Sun's ox cart, he naturally didn't shy away from discussing it.

"Jia Niang's worries are not unreasonable. We should indeed make plans early."

In reality, Zhou Jingchen had hurriedly sneaked back this time to persuade his family to move out. Those bandits weren't just likely to retaliate; they were certain to do so. It was inconvenient to discuss the details of this matter. Zhou Jingchen lowered his eyelids and suddenly glanced at Ye Jia, as if he hadn't expected Ye Jia's sharpness and was rather surprised. Ye Jia, feeling strangely stared at, looked up at him as well.

After a moment, Zhou Jingchen withdrew his gaze and gave a definite guess: "Within a month, those horse bandits will definitely come back again."

As soon as the words fell, the whole room fell silent.

Old Man Sun had been listening to someone else's story, but upon hearing this, he couldn't sit still. His face was wrinkled and filled with worry. After pondering it over, he interrupted and asked, "Are you serious, Boss? Do you have any special information channels at the garrison?"

Zhou Jingchen knew the Sun family's situation. The Sun family was an old military household, and Old Man Sun had been a soldier for twenty years, so it was not surprising that he would ask this question. However, Zhou Jingchen did not give a definite answer, only saying: "Don't put the lives of your family on luck."

Regardless of what Old Man Sun would think when he returned, the last bit of hesitation Yu had in her heart vanished after Zhou Jingchen confirmed Ye Jia's decision. She even decided to move in early, fearing that it would delay the time.

Zhou Jingchen smiled and soothed her, "Mom, moving our family is no small matter. We need to decide where to live before we move."

Isn't it? Although this matter is urgent, it won't take more than a day or two. The soldiers stationed there are still here. At least before these people withdraw, the bandits will have to think twice before they even want to retaliate. Ye Jia pondered for a moment and said, "How about this? I'll go to Dongxiang Town tomorrow to check out the house. Mother, do you want to come with me or stay home and wait for news? It's up to you."

Choosing a house is related to whether the family will live comfortably in the future, so Yu naturally wanted to go with them.

But looking after the house would certainly require constant running around, without a break. The two adults were never tired of running around, so what about Rui Jie'er? Normally, when they were doing business, they'd leave the child next door, assuming the town was peaceful and safe. But ever since the encounter with the bandits, Yu Shi couldn't bear to leave the child with anyone else. She worried that if the bandits came again, Rui Jie'er, the Zhou family's only heir, would be killed.

"I'd rather not go. I'll stay at home and look after Rui Jie'er." Yu shook her head. "But can you go alone? Can you handle it?"

"Don't worry about that." Ye Jia knew what was going on. "I'll take care of it."

Actually, it would be best to let his son handle the house-viewing task. Zhou Jingchen's ability is unquestionable. However, his son is now unable to move freely due to his status. This matter can only be handled by his daughter-in-law alone. Yu Shi was secretly worried and thought it would be better to go to the Ye family and ask one of his brothers or nephews to accompany Ye Jia. "Jia Niang is going to the Ye family, so why not ask her?"

Ye Jia secretly didn't want to establish any connection with the Ye family, especially not letting them know she had money on deposit. However, Yu's suggestion was well-intentioned, so regardless of her inner thoughts, she verbally agreed.

It was getting late, and after dinner, the night fell.

Old Man Sun had been staying at the Zhou family's house until this hour, feeling a little anxious. Ye Jia hurried to the kitchen to bring the food back, telling Old Man Sun to take it back to his wife and grandson. They set a time to leave for Dongxiang Town the next day, and Old Man Sun and his grandson set off in an ox cart.

A cool night breeze blew away the daytime heat. The air was filled with the fragrance of grass and trees. The sky was filled with stars, creating a dazzling Milky Way across the night sky. Ye Jia stood in the yard, taking a few breaths. Yu Shi was tidying up by the well with pots and pans. Rui Jie'er had already gone to bed. Ye Jia thought of the three chickens still caged in the kitchen and reached out to grab Zhou Jingchen's arm.

Zhou Jingchen was stunned and raised his eyelids: "?"

"The chicken hasn't been killed yet." I was going to kill it, but I didn't put it down because the food was ready.

Zhou Jingchen wiped his fingers and followed Ye Jia to the chicken coop. Inside, three chickens were already asleep, huddled in a corner with droopy heads. Zhou Jingchen squatted down, reached in, and without even pulling the chicken out, he broke a chicken's wing with one hand. With three clicks, the three chickens fell to the ground in the coop, unable to move. Zhou Jingchen lifted the lid on the chicken coop and turned to look at Ye Jia.

Ye Jia looked at him strangely for a long time, then lowered her eyes to glance at his hand hanging at his side. Zhou Jingchen's fingers were white and slender, and he didn't look very strong. But you can't judge a person by his appearance...

"What's wrong?" Zhou Jingchen was a little amused. "It's just a clever trick. It's not as amazing as you think."

Ye Jia said "Oh" and instructed him to take the chicken to the well to kill and bleed it. Hot water was simmering on the stove, so she turned and went to the kitchen. "Don't be in a hurry, my husband. We can clean these chickens later."

The braised chicken nuggets from the chicken she had killed earlier were eaten by the four adults and two children. Ye Jia planned to process the remaining three chickens and fry them into chicken racks and fillets. She would make them into portable snacks. Since she was going out all day tomorrow, she could take some with her as a snack. "Plucking the chicken feathers cleanly and storing the blood in a bowl."

As they walked, Yu instructed him to work. She seemed to be hesitant to speak and ultimately said nothing.

Zhou Jingchen had no complaints about getting back to work. Yu had also finished washing the dishes, freeing up the large wooden basin. Ye Jia hurried over with a large bucket of boiling water, scooping a ladleful of it for Yu to wash the dishes. Seeing Zhou Jingchen pour a large bowl of blood, he asked him to throw all three chickens into the large wooden basin. He was just about to pour a large bucket of hot water over them when Zhou Jingchen stopped him.

Ye Jia blinked, and Zhou Jingchen picked up the hot water bucket: "I'll do it, you stand further away."

Standing back obediently, Zhou Jingchen quickly ironed the chicken's feathers. After lying down for a while, he moved extremely quickly, plucking the chicken's feathers in a few strokes. Ye Jia didn't even need to lift a hand, as Zhou Jingchen deftly used the knife to cut open the chicken's belly. I don't know if it was Ye Jia's illusion or what, but I always felt that Zhou Jingchen's knifework was very beautiful, a kind of gorgeous and dazzling feeling.

Chicken giblets are a good thing, and when cooked well, they're especially delicious. Ye Jia is a fan of chicken gizzards and chicken feet. Braised chicken giblets can be enjoyed as a snack or with wine. Thinking of something delicious, Ye Jia stared at his work without blinking, squatting beside him at arm's length, and casually asked, "Husband, you seem to be quite skilled with a knife, huh?"

"Not bad." Zhou Jingchen's long eyelashes trembled slightly, "Practice makes perfect."

"Oh," Ye Jia nodded, speaking without much thought, "Why do you need to use a knife so frequently?"

Zhou Jingchen followed Ye Jia's instructions, removing the muscle sheets and dismantling the skeleton. He responded to every word Ye Jia said, unconcerned about whether Ye Jia was talking nonsense or not. His voice was clear and calm, and he spoke with a serious air: "Kill the dog. You probably don't know, but before the Zhou family's incident, they were full-time dog breeders."

Ye Jia: "..." She didn't believe him at all!

I couldn't help but glance at him.

Zhou Jingchen raised his head and looked at her innocently.

After staring at each other for a moment, Ye Jia, who was so straightforward, couldn't help but choke him: "Heaven and earth are unkind and treat all things as straw dogs?"

Zhou Jingchen hadn't expected her to stare at him for so long, and to suddenly say something like that, leaving him stunned for a few breaths. Seeing her expression of disdain, as if to say something like, "Just pretend, I'm too lazy to call you out on this nonsense," he couldn't help but laugh. He quickly fell silent, shook his head, and replied to Ye Jia's question in a serious tone, "No, I don't have any disciples on this trip. The white dog is the dog that follows me."

Ye Jia couldn't help but roll her eyes at him: "Hurry up and clean up, I have to bomb again tomorrow morning."

As the two were talking, a small dark figure suddenly darted out from behind Ye Jia. It was incredibly fast, its eyes blazing brightly in the darkness like two lanterns. It rushed over, raised one of its hind legs, and then, as Zhou Jingchen watched, slowly urinated on his shoe. The warmth on the shoe slowly rose, and a strong, acrid smell of urine quickly spread...

It was quiet. Everything was quiet.

It's no secret that wild animals' urine smell is incredibly strong. Anyone who's ever owned a cat or dog knows it can fill an entire house. Ye Jia covered his nose and silently stepped back three steps, laughing with a gloating air.

The Regent, who was obsessed with mysophobia, said: "..."

He laughed briefly, his voice still calm, but with a hint of gritted teeth. "...Actually, it could be a butcher's dog. If the little thing doesn't know how to use something, my excellent knife skills can help it pick it off."

Fearing that this guy would get so angry that he would kill his "son of a bitch", Ye Jia ran away with Diandian in his arms.

Zhou Jingchen looked up at the figure walking away, then glanced down at his soaked shoes, feeling a mixture of laughter and tears. Yu Shi hadn't noticed when she came out, and Zhou Jingchen's gaze shifted. Yu Shi didn't notice the changes in his expression, only sighing, "Jia Niang seems to have really read a few books."

It doesn’t matter whether he has studied or not, what matters is that Ye Jia wants fried chicken racks and chicken fillets.

She was really craving it; she hadn't eaten anything flavorful in six months. Although she hadn't eaten much snacks before, Ye Jia had been craving them ever since they were no longer available. Coming to this place, she had no real hope for her life, so she might as well focus her thoughts and happiness on delicious food. Zhou Jingchen's obsession with cleanliness was unbearable, so he took off his shoes.

Yu hurriedly took out the shoes she had made for Zhou Jingchen recently, which were just right for him to wear.

After some cleaning, the urine smell in the air finally faded. Ye Jia tucked the little guy into the nest, tapped his nose and warned him a few words. The little guy whimpered, wondering if he understood. She turned around and got a new basin, cleaning the chicken gizzards and intestines. Fried food tastes best right out of the pan; if it's left out for too long and loses its crispness, it loses its flavor. But braised food doesn't need to be marinated; it might taste even better tomorrow.

Using scissors, he removed the stomach from the gizzards and discarded them. Ye Jia scooped up a small spoonful of flour and salt, squeezing the intestines clean. Three chickens made plenty of offal, and with six chicken feet and three pairs of wings, the pot was full.

Ye Jia added some ingredients to the chicken offal and braised it. Zhou Jingchen washed up and came out. It seemed like it was almost time to leave.

Lower-ranking soldiers were required to return to their units at night. Zhou Jingchen washed his hands and feet, and Ye Jia gave him two pieces of scented soap from the family, which he used for daily washing. Yu Shi wanted to have a chat with her son and daughter-in-law, so she sent Ye Jia out to see them off.

Ye Jia saw that the chicken offal in the pot was almost cooked, so he filled a small bowl with some for him and sent him out.

Diandian quietly came out of the house and followed the two of them. Ye Jia dropped them off at the village entrance and was about to leave when Zhou Jingchen called out to him just as he turned around. Ye Jia stopped and looked at him in confusion.

Zhou Jingchen suddenly took out something from his sleeve and said, "I made this when I had nothing to do. Take it home and wear it."

Ye Jia took it and saw it was a wooden hairpin. Although it was made of wood, it was intricately carved, a lifelike orchid. Honestly, Ye Jia didn't really know how to use these ancient ornaments. She usually wore her hair in a messy bun, just enough to keep it from falling. She wore a headscarf anyway, hiding it from view, so no one would notice the mess beneath it.

"Go back," Zhou Jingchen stood at the intersection, "I'll watch you return to the yard."

Ye Jia felt a strange feeling as she held the wooden hairpin. She frowned and looked at Zhou Jingchen, then lowered her head. She couldn't explain the feeling, but she was sure it wasn't that annoying.

After pondering for about three breaths, Ye Jia still couldn't figure it out. Zhou Jingchen stood in the darkness, his expression elegant and calm.

Ye Jia lay in bed late at night, still unable to figure out the question. It wasn't that she was slow, but rather that she subconsciously refused to try. As if as long as she couldn't figure it out, she could ignore it and not worry about it. But remembering what Zhou Jingchen had said last time, she felt that the answer would have to come soon. Ye Jia sighed, turned over a few times in the darkness, and fell asleep.

Early the next morning, Ye Jia cut the chicken breast and chicken thighs that he had sliced ​​last night into strips.

Take out the remaining kuming powder at home and marinate it with rice wine, cornstarch, green onion and ginger for a while. Then beat in two eggs, kuming powder, and some corn flour, knead and stir, and marinate for another quarter of an hour.

While the food was being pickled, Ye Jia made a simple breakfast. After the family had finished eating, he fried it.

Rui Jie'er had fattened up three chickens with all the worms they'd dig up, and they were enough to fry up a small basket. The removed chicken carcasses were even easier to prepare. Marinate them the same way and deep-fry them in hot oil. The oil doesn't need to be too hot; just fry until golden brown.

Yu originally thought the chicken was delicious, but when the frying smell spread, it was so fragrant that even her anxiety was relieved. Ye Jia gave her a small bowl and asked her to taste it. Yu was a little embarrassed and said that she was too old to eat snacks. In the end, she took a chopstick and said nothing more, happily finishing the bowl: "Jia Niang, it would be great if we could send a portion of this to Yun An as well."

Rui Jie'er stumbled over, sniffing her little nose. She wasn't afraid that Ye Jia would kill her chicken. She ate it with her mouth full of oil.

Ye Jia sent a bowl of rice to Old Lady Wang next door. It wasn't that she couldn't send it to Zhou Jingchen. She just didn't know where he stayed at night, so it would be a bit troublesome to ask for his address. She immediately packed several large bags and stuffed them into a bamboo basket. "It's up to you, mother."

Since he was in a hurry to go out, it was naturally Yu who delivered the food.

She pocketed some silver and changed into less shabby clothes. Old Man Sun was already waiting outside. Ye Jia boarded the oxcart and made her way to Yejiazhuang. With the current chaos and turmoil, the brothers and nephews of the Ye family might not be willing to go out with her. But for the sake of Quan Yushi's heart, Ye Jia had to make this trip.

Arriving at Yejiazhuang, it was also in chaos. Yujia Village was even closer, just behind it. Many horse bandits, in a panic, had fled into Yejiazhuang while being pursued, injuring several families.

The Ye Family Village was currently being investigated for any bandits hiding there. The village was in turmoil, the commotion audible from afar. Because the village chief was a member of the Ye family, they had been agonizing over this matter for days and nights. Ye Tongsheng, the village's most prestigious scholar, had been summoned to the village chief's home, but he wasn't there. When Ye Jia's ox cart arrived at the gate, few people from the Ye family were there.

Ye Wumei and Ye Qinghe, whose leg hadn't fully healed yet, were inside. Ye Su was mending shoe soles under a tree, and several of her younger nephews had gone to the village chief's house to watch the fun. Ye Wumei wanted to go and get someone to come back, but Ye Jia stopped her, saying, "No need. I'm just here to pass on a message."

Taking out a bag of fried chicken strips from his backpack, Ye Jia told her about the Zhou family's move to Dongxiang Town. Regardless of Ye Su's shock and her anxious look, as if Ye Jia would never come back, Ye Jia also pointed out that the bandits might return for revenge.

"That's what my husband wants. He also thinks these bandits will take revenge." Ye Jia's advice wasn't very practical, he just talked about his own arrangements. "If they do, I'm afraid they'll kill people everywhere again. Who knows if we'll be as lucky as we were this time. Ultimately, Dongxiang Town is safer. With our base there, those bandits wouldn't dare run wild under the garrison's noses."

"What do you mean, Third Sister?" Ye Qinghe was a man who knew how to grasp the key points. "Do you think we should move out too?"

Ye Jia glanced at Ye Su, who looked frightened but clearly opposed to relocating, and said ambiguously, "Whether you move or not is up to you. This is just my husband's guess. I can't guarantee whether it's accurate or not."

Ye Sushi really disagreed. Furthermore, Ye Jia's attitude was cold, not at all as close to her as a mother as before, which made her feel unhappy.

But she was too timid to say anything harsh, so she said anxiously, "The Ye family has been in Yejiazhuang for generations. Our roots are here. Where do you want us to move? We're unfamiliar with the place. What are we going to eat and drink? You're young and you're just talking nonsense. Where our roots are, we're there. How can you just tell someone to leave their hometown?"

"It's up to you." The message had been delivered, and nothing else could be forced. "I came here today to ask if anyone at home could accompany me to Dongxiang Town. My mother-in-law is worried about me going alone, so I came here to bring a message and find a companion."

Ye Jia was prepared for the possibility that no one would be willing to go with her, but then the quiet Fifth Sister Ye stepped forward and said, "Third Sister, I'll go with you."

Ye Su was not happy with Ye Jia's exhortation, but she didn't stop Ye Wumei from following him out. She picked up the basket and went back inside. She didn't even offer a sip of tea. After a while, she lifted the curtain and came back inside, carrying a bag of chicken strips that Ye Jia had placed on the table.

Ye Jia was too lazy to argue with her and just glanced at Ye Qinghe, "You should pay attention to this matter. Remember to mention it to your father, second brother and nephew when they come back."

Ye Qinghe frowned and nodded, and Ye Jia took Ye Wumei to get on the ox cart.

Speaking of which, Ye Jia hadn't paid much attention to this youngest sister. The last time he'd been here, he'd been busy with Fourth Sister Ye's affairs, and had only seen Fifth Sister Ye a few times. She vaguely seemed to have a bit more temper than Fourth Sister Ye, but she was also timid and quiet. Now, she sat silently on the oxcart. Ye Jia took a few looks at her and noticed that this little sister was quite pretty.

Peach blossom eyes, high nose bridge. Her skin color is not as fair as Ye Jia's, but she is also a fair and clean little beauty.

The car creaked to the entrance of the village. Before Ye Jia noticed, Ye Wumei spotted a tall figure among the people asking questions at the entrance. She quickly tugged at Ye Jia's sleeve, pointed at the figure, and whispered, "Third sister, my brother-in-law is here."

Ye Jia was stunned, and when she looked up, she met Zhou Jingchen's eyes.

Zhou Jingchen seemed to smile, then turned his head and said a few words to the people around him, then strode towards Ye Jia.

Old Man Sun had no choice but to stop the oxcart, and Zhou Jingchen approached. Knowing she was going to Dongxiang Town today, Zhou Jingchen nodded to Ye Wumei, then turned to Ye Jia and said, "Jia Niang, go to the pawnshop in Dongxiang Town today and find a man named Yuan Sheng. Introduce Yuan Chengsong, and he can take you wherever you want to look at houses or buy things."

Ye Jia knew that this guy could win people's hearts, so he stared at him for a while and nodded.

He came over just to pass on a message, as he had other things to do. He turned to leave, but Ye Jia thought for a moment and called out to him.

Zhou Jingchen stopped. Ye Jia sighed, pulled out a smaller bag from her backpack, and waved to him. Then she jumped off the cart, stuffed the small bag of fried chicken into his arms, and without saying a word, got on the cart and asked Old Man Sun to drive.

Zhou Jingchen blinked while holding the package, opened a corner, and saw the fragrant fried chicken strips inside. He immediately smiled.

It took them half a day to reach Dongxiang Town, and it was already noon when they arrived at the town entrance. Even if they hadn't done anything all morning, the jolting ride on the oxcart had made them hungry. Ye Jia took the two of them to a restaurant for a quick meal, quickly filled their stomachs, and then went to find a dental clinic.

Libei Town didn't have a pawnshop, but Dongxiang Town did. There weren't many pawnshops in the area, just one. It was easy to find; just ask anyone. All the way to the pawnshop, Ye Wumei sat quietly on the oxcart, watching the shops and people passing by. Although Yejiazhuang wasn't far from town, Ye Wumei hadn't been there much. She'd been to a market once when she was little, thanks to her eldest nephew, but the bustle of Libei Town couldn't compare to Dongxiang Town.

It was the first time she realized how different the prosperity of two towns so close to each other could be. Even the food in the restaurants was much better than the banquets in the village. Ye Wumei's eyes lit up as she watched them all along the way.

When he arrived at the dental clinic, Ye Jia directly reported Yuan Chengsong's name and said he was looking for Yuan Sheng.

As luck would have it, Yuan Sheng was there. He hurried out upon hearing the name. He was stunned to see two beautiful young women. Ye Jia vaguely explained that her husband and Yuan Chengsong were comrades, and then discussed finding a place to live. Since the move was for safety reasons, Ye Jia's first requirement was naturally proximity to the base. A private yard with easy access to water and the opportunity to grow flowers and vegetables would be even better.

When Yuan Sheng heard this, he immediately helped her figure it out and sorted it out for her according to Ye Jia's request.

He was also a quick-witted person. He quickly came up with a candidate and took Ye Jia to look. Ye Jia followed him around for an entire afternoon, looking at four or five houses. Finally, they chose a large courtyard with five rooms in the northern suburbs, right next to the garrison. In the quiet, you could even hear the soldiers' shouts and drills. The courtyard was large, with a well dug in the middle, and few neighbors around.

All the conditions are good, the only downside is that it's a bit far from town. If you like the hustle and bustle, I'm afraid you won't be able to live here. This courtyard is not only far from town, but also some distance from the subordinate villages.

The price was also somewhat shocking. Land in small towns in the northwest wasn't worth much. But for this courtyard, Yuan Sheng offered twenty-five taels of silver. Ye Jia hadn't said a word yet, but the price had already intimidated Ye Wumei. Twenty-five taels—a courtyard that could drain the life out of a well-to-do family. Remember, when Ye Simei got married, the betrothal gift was only ten taels. Two Ye Simeis wouldn't earn that much.

Yuan Sheng probably knew that the price was a bit high. He hesitated for a moment and said that he could only get it down by two or three taels at most, and it wouldn't be much cheaper.

Ye Jia asked him to go and negotiate, and said that if the price was reduced to twenty taels, he could pay the money and sign the contract on the spot.

After a busy afternoon, it was getting dark, and they couldn't wait to go back for dinner. After a long afternoon of hard work, they were all starving. Ye Jia simply took a few people to Dongxiang Town's East Street to eat noodles. They thought they would have to wait at least a few days for results, but they had barely finished their bowl of noodles when Yuan Sheng came over, sweating profusely, saying that the owner of the house was willing to sell it for twenty taels.

Ye Jia was also happy to ask Yuan Sheng to call the owner over. They signed the deed in person, handing over the money and the deed.

Before leaving, Ye Wumei asked Ye Jia, "Sister, when are you moving?"

Ye Jia thought for a moment and replied, "Tomorrow."

Ye Wumei nodded and said nothing more.

Ye Jia's willingness to pay the silver shocked Ye Wumei, who remained speechless for a long time. They said their business was done, and they didn't linger in the town any longer. They drove the ox cart back as quickly as possible before dark. The first person to take Ye Wumei home arrived, and Yu Shi, holding Rui Jie'er's hand, waited anxiously at the village entrance. Only when they saw Ye Jia coming back from afar did they feel relieved.

She walked quickly towards him. Ye Jia nodded to her without saying anything, and she immediately understood.

"When are we moving out?" Yu hadn't been feeling at peace since Zhou Jingchen's words yesterday. With Ye Jia away today, she felt even more panicked by the lack of a family. She hadn't felt this way before, but now she couldn't stand it at all.

"We'll move tomorrow," Ye Jia said decisively. "My right eyelid has been twitching a lot today. I feel like something's going to happen."

Yu nodded, "Okay, let's go to bed early tonight."

Back in their courtyard, the two chatted for a while. Ye Jia was thirsty after running around all day, so he downed three large bowls of tea. Yu looked at the deed for a long time, and then they both went back to their rooms to wash up and go to bed.

The Zhou family's luggage had already been packed, waiting to be loaded onto a truck and shipped to Dongxiang Town the next day. Ye Jia slept so hot that she was almost drowsy. The closer it got to mid-June, the hotter it got. The months these days weren't like the solar calendar of later times; the sixth lunar month was incredibly hot. Ye Jia slept until midnight, feeling the heat and unbuttoning her small dress. After Zhou Jingchen left, she wore less at night.

The string of her dress had just come loose, hanging halfway down her collarbone. Ye Jia felt her lower abdomen tighten, a little choked from drinking too much water before bed.

There was actually a toilet in the Zhou family's backyard, just a few steps away. In the past, when Zhou Jingchen was at home, Ye Jia would go outside. But after Zhou Jingchen left, Ye Jia didn't want to go out anymore, so she got a bucket and used it inside. The bucket was placed in the toilet during the day and brought inside at night, placed behind the main room door. She squinted her eyes and drowsily stood up and walked out, untying her belt.

A white hand grabbed her slipping underwear and pulled it up forcefully, holding it tightly.

A deep, hoarse voice whispered softly, "Open your eyes, there's someone here."

Ye Jia instantly woke up and opened her eyes. A tall, slender figure stood by the door of the east room, as if she had just emerged from there. Ye Jia blinked as a slender, warm hand lifted the rope from her chest and carefully pinned it behind her neck.

Ye Jia: “!!!!”

After three breaths, her eyes were bloodshot: "...Where the hell did you come from, Zhou Jingchen?!"