After entering the customs, everyone continued on their journey.
Apart from the fact that there were no more refugees fleeing famine along the way, it didn't seem to be much different from the area outside the Great Wall.
The two maids were sitting in a car with Old Madam Ye. It was not convenient to talk about the main family's affairs, so they asked, "Old sister, where are you and your family planning to go? Are you going to seek refuge with relatives or friends?"
"Yes, my old man is from Rongxi Village near the capital.
"It's a pity that he passed away so early, leaving us orphans and widows, unable to return home to look for our relatives.
"It was not until my family suffered a disaster this year that I thought of going back to seek refuge.
"I don't know what the situation is like back home now!"
Old Master Ye was actually deceived back then and followed a few people to dig ginseng outside the Great Wall.
As a result, he didn't find any ginseng, but instead spent all the money he had on him.
Mr. Ye had no money and felt ashamed, so he simply stayed outside the customs and did not go home.
Fortunately, he was a hardworking man, and the imperial court encouraged the people to open up wasteland outside the Great Wall. In a few years, he accumulated some wealth, and then he got married and had a son.
Seeing that his life was getting better and better, Mr. Ye began to think about going back to his hometown.
But the distance between the inside and outside of the Great Wall was too far. It took more than half a year just to ask someone to deliver the letter and then wait for the reply from my parents and brothers in my hometown.
People in his hometown originally thought that Mr. Ye had died outside the Great Wall a long time ago, but they didn't expect to hear from him many years later. They warmly and sincerely invited them to return to their hometown.
But this trip to visit relatives did not take place in the end.
That winter, before the snow had melted, Mr. Ye fell ill.
He never recovered from this illness and died before summer.
Old Mrs. Ye was left with her four sons, an orphan and a widow. It was not even certain whether they could even feed themselves, let alone the ability to travel all the way back to their hometown to visit relatives.
So this matter was delayed again and again until the disaster this year, when it was forced to be put on the agenda again.
As Mrs. Ye spoke, she reached out and touched the letter she had been holding in her arms.
The letter not only contains the address of my hometown, but also the earnest expectations of my relatives.
But so many years have passed, and I don’t know how much of this hope is left.
After hearing this, the two maids looked at each other. Although they didn't say anything, they were not very optimistic in their hearts.
Not to mention that so many years have passed, I don’t even know what the situation in my hometown is like now.
Even if all the family members are still there, going back to visit relatives and friends is different from fleeing famine.
If Mr. Ye were still alive, there might still be some hope for this matter.
But now...
The whole family has never even seen their relatives in their hometown, let alone any feelings.
Just take him in if you say so?
I'm afraid one would have to be the reincarnation of Buddha and have the heart of a bodhisattva to do that!
However, it is not appropriate to say this in front of Old Lady Ye.
The fat nanny said, "Don't worry, old sister. Your family is so prosperous, and your four sons are enviable. No matter where you go, you will live a prosperous life."
"Who says it isn't true? Once you're near the capital, there are plenty of job opportunities compared to anywhere else. As long as you're diligent and willing to work, you won't starve!"
"Yes!" Old Madam Ye felt a little relieved after hearing what the two said. "We got through such a difficult time back then. Now that our sons are grown up and married, what else can't we get through?"
After the three of them finished chatting and teasing Sunny for a while, the mule cart suddenly started to pull over and then slowly stopped.
Old Mrs. Ye didn't understand what was going on. She thought something had happened, so she hugged Qingtian tightly and asked, "Why did it stop?"
As the fat nanny prepared to get off the car, she said, "It's almost noon, time to cook!"
The thin nanny also said, "If you don't want to go to the bathroom, just sit in the car. I'll bring you a bowl of food later."
"How can we wait for something ready to eat?" Old Mrs. Ye said, and she also got out of the car under the sunny sky. "My eldest daughter-in-law is a good cook. I'll ask her to come and help you."
Knowing that the Qin family was a wealthy family, Old Lady Ye only asked Sister-in-law Ye to help, and she didn't feel comfortable asking her to show everyone her skills.
But even so, the two maids did not take it seriously.
A country woman would dare to say that she is a good cook just because she can make a few stews.
But that kind of thing, let alone the master, even they would not look down on it.
Old Madam Ye saw through their thoughts at a glance, but she was not annoyed. She changed the topic and said, "How about this, we have rations with us, so we can just make some food ourselves.
"I'll bring some over when it's ready. If you two don't mind, you can try it."
After hearing Old Madam Ye say that the Ye family was going to start a fire on their own, the two maids looked at her with a higher opinion.
Although the Qin family was wealthy and powerful, they did not bring much food with them when they went out.
Some of them were stolen when they were attacked by refugees before.
There are so many people in the Ye family, and most of them are men, not to mention five hungry boys.
As the saying goes, the little brat will eat me to death.
If we provide this food to them openly, I'm afraid we really can't afford it!
Old Mrs. Ye took Qingtian to her own flatbed cart and found that she didn't need to say anything, as her sons and daughters-in-law had already cooperated tacitly as usual to collect firewood, set up the pot, and prepare the ingredients.
Seeing Old Lady Ye coming over with Qingtian in her arms, Sister Ye, who was about to wash the pot, immediately came over, kissed Qingtian on the cheek and said, "Oh, I haven't seen my daughter all morning. I missed her so much."
Boss Ye also came over with two bundles of firewood and said, "Mom, we picked up some firewood along the way. Do you want to send some to the Qin family?"
Old Madam Ye looked back at the Qin family servants who were just beginning to gather firewood, nodded, and said, "Send it over!"
Ye Laosi has already started the fire.
Mrs. Ye Er and Mrs. Ye San also came back from the stream carrying the washed and packed rabbit meat and wild vegetables.
Mrs. Ye rolled up her sleeves and started cooking without saying a word.
"Sizzle—"
The sound and smell of onions, ginger, garlic and chilies being put into the pot attracted the attention of the Qin family's servants.
Then they watched as Mrs. Ye poured a pot of meat of unknown origin into the big iron pot.
Mrs. Ye waved the spatula and stir-fried the rabbit meat quickly, allowing the fat to evenly coat every piece of meat.
For a moment, the aroma of meat filled the air, and the Qin family's servants almost swallowed their saliva at the same time.
Of course, the Qin family is not unable to afford meat.
But traveling is different from being at home, so we have to keep our meals simple.
It has been a long time since everyone has had any oil in their stomachs.
not to mention……
This smells so good, doesn’t it?
The two maids who were in the same car with Old Lady Ye were standing side by side at this time, also looking eagerly at the Ye family at the end of the team.
The thin nanny murmured, "It seems that Mrs. Ye is not only not bragging, but is actually being modest. This smells really good!"
Fat Mammy's stomach has started to rumble.
She swallowed the saliva that had accumulated in her mouth and licked her lips, but she still said stubbornly: "What's the point of just smelling it? I have to taste it to know if it tastes good..."
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