Chapter 100 Schemes
The weather is getting colder, and most families will run out of food this winter. That will be the really tough time.
This is Yejiacun.
In order to protect her son and grandson, Old Lady Qian sold everything she could in the house and even used her savings for her own funeral to pay taxes, which prevented Ye Yaozu from being conscripted into the army.
However, there was no food left in the house, and the whole family was having trouble feeding themselves.
“I told you your mother is rich, but you didn’t believe me. See what I said? She just can’t bear to let her grandson eat anything good.”
Xianglan, heavily pregnant, angrily pinched Ye Yaozu, "Ye Yaozu, say something!"
Ye Yaozu hurriedly coaxed, "Even if there was any before, there isn't any now. Xianglan, have a bite first, and I'll think of something later. Don't let the baby in your belly go hungry."
"Eat, eat, eat! You eat it yourself. Is wild vegetable porridge even fit for human consumption?!"
Xianglan shoved the wild vegetable paste in the bowl over, saying, "I'm going back to my parents' house. This life is unbearable."
"Fragrant orchid, fragrant orchid."
Ye Yaozu tried to chase after her out the door, but Old Lady Qian grabbed him.
"If she wants to go back, just let her go back. Her family has a lot of people and not much to eat. I guarantee she'll be back before dark."
"You little slut, you really think you're some rich heiress. Wait until the baby is born and I'll teach you a lesson."
Old Mrs. Qian stood in the yard, cursing and swearing. She had had enough of her daughter-in-law.
She could have tolerated it before, but now everyone is struggling, and Xianglan's family would never let her go back to live off them.
"Mother, I heard that Lin Anyuan colluded with bandits and was caught by the government troops. He's doomed this time. Ye Wan will be a widow now, with three maids to care for."
Old Mrs. Qian spat and gloated, "Serves him right, that good-for-nothing finally got his comeuppance!"
Ye Yaozu's eyes darted around, and he whispered, "Mother, now that Lin Anyuan has been arrested, the indenture we signed is invalid, right? How about we bring Ye Wan back?"
Old Mrs. Qian's face darkened at the mention of Ye Wan. "Why did you bring that good-for-nothing back? She's a heartless ingrate who deserves to be struck by lightning. She doesn't even recognize her own mother."
She still trembles when she thinks about that last sickle strike.
What are you coming back for? To kill her? She hasn't lived enough yet.
“Mother, if you let her come back, the money she earns will be ours. She's a woman, and without a man at home, she'll be bullied to death. We are, after all, her family.”
This winter, they didn't even have anything to eat. Why don't they just sell Ye Wan and those three little money-losing kids?
Life at home is really tough; we're in debt, and we can't just starve to death.
Ye Yaozu was truly at his wit's end.
You can't mess with outsiders, but Ye Wan is his sister.
Old Mrs. Qian thought about it carefully, "You're right, how come I didn't think of that? But will that brat listen to us?"
This brat is completely different from before. Even though Lin Anyuan isn't here, she's still a little scared.
"She has no choice but to listen to us," Ye Yaozu said through gritted teeth.
She was willing to go all out for her unborn son.
However, he needed to think about this carefully; he definitely couldn't take action himself.
Ye Wan had no idea that she was being targeted again. When she got home, she wondered whether she should ask Liu Wenshu for help.
Of all the people she knew, only Liu Wenshu had some power.
Daya comforted her, "Mom, don't be sad, Dad will be alright."
Ye Wan said, "I'm not sad. Your father might not be in any danger. We'll continue living our lives as usual. Don't worry, I still have money. You won't go hungry."
Then he glanced at the pretty Daya and said, "Daya, try not to go out alone in the future."
Daya paused for a moment, then nodded. "Mother, I understand."
Just as Ye Wan was about to leave, Aunt Wang arrived.
"Oh my, are you going out looking like that?"
"Don't go out right now. It's chaotic outside. I heard that some people are even taking advantage of the chaos to loot in the prefectural city. Our rural area is relatively safe. If all else fails, we can hide in the mountains."
Aunt Wang whispered to Ye Wan the news she had heard.
She used to be on good terms with Ye Wan, and she just came to take a look.
Ye Wan sighed, "Lin Anyuan knows a few people in the yamen. I'll go and ask if I can pull some strings."
When Aunt Wang heard her mention this, she immediately started cursing Zhang Erniu's mother.
Ye Wan didn't say anything. It was fine if Zhang Erniu's mother was dead, but if she hadn't, she wouldn't have let him off easily.
Daya was cooking in the kitchen, and the aroma wafted out, which is when Aunt Wang left.
"Mom, what's that smell about you? You smell so good!"
As soon as Aunt Wang entered the courtyard, her eldest daughter-in-law asked her questions.
"It doesn't smell very good. Oh, I just came back from Ye's place. I don't know what she cooked, but it smelled so delicious." Aunt Wang thought it smelled wonderful just thinking about it.
"Mother, this Ye family..." The eldest daughter-in-law hesitated before speaking.
What are you trying to say?
“I just thought this Ye family was very capable, but I didn’t expect something like this to happen. You see… could you tell my younger brother from my maternal family?”
Aunt Wang was shocked when she heard this. "You really dare to think like that! What if Lin Anyuan comes back? Aren't you afraid of getting beaten up?"
Lin Anyuan hasn't even said anything yet, and he's already set his sights on the Ye family. He's really lost his mind.
The eldest daughter-in-law spoke softly, "Mother, I just envy Ye Shi for being able to make money. If you don't like it, then forget it."
Marrying someone like that would be like having a money tree.
After her daughter-in-law left, Aunt Wang couldn't help but think, "What if she doesn't come back?"
Ye Wan is indeed very capable. She has only been in the family for a short time, but the three children have been raised to be so well-nourished and radiant, as if they have become completely different people.
It's not uncommon for widows in rural areas to remarry, it's just that it doesn't have a good reputation.
"Da Ya, you watch over those two. I'm going to the prefectural city."
Ye Wan had just finished giving instructions when she changed her mind, "Fine, the three of you will come with me."
What if something happens to the family after she leaves?
Daya said, "Mom, Grandpa Sun sold the oxcart, so it's inconvenient for you to take the three of us to town. Don't worry, I'll take good care of my two younger sisters at home."
Ye Wan thought that even with the three of them, they might not be able to reach the prefectural city before dark.
Tell Daya to lock the door and wait for her to come home.
Ye Wan had just stepped out the door when, seeing no one around, she slipped into her spatial dimension.
"who?"
A moment later, through the door, Daya cautiously spoke.
“It’s me. My mother’s coffin will be laid in peace the day after tomorrow. We have to go from house to house to invite everyone.” Zhang Erniu’s voice came from outside the door.
Daya said in a deep voice, "I understand, I will tell my mother."
"Da Ya, what I said before still stands. I am still willing to marry you. You can come into the family as soon as my mother's funeral is over."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Ye Wan suddenly appeared and kicked him in the butt, yelling, "Get lost!"
Zhang Erniu was so frightened by Ye Wan's sudden appearance that he ran away in a panic.
"Mother, why are you back again?" Daya opened the door in surprise.
"I didn't go far to pick up something."
She was actually just hiding to see who would come, but she didn't expect Zhang Erniu to be so persistent. Well then, she wouldn't be polite.
I'll deal with Zhang Erniu when I get back.
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