Chapter 41
Ye Jia and Yu exchanged a glance. Yu tried to open the door, but Ye Jia stopped her. It wasn't her fault for being suspicious; she'd seen plenty of modern scams, and she wasn't particularly trusting of someone she knew who had suddenly appeared late at night. So, a rational woman like her wasn't suited to romantic encounters. The dramas where the heroines brought unidentified people home were practically impossible for her.
"How did you find this place?" Ye Jia asked coldly, "What happened that brought you here so late at night?"
Apparently, Ajiu hadn't anticipated Ye Jia's level of wariness. But forced by the situation, he still briefly explained the details. It turned out that after leaving Yejiazhuang that day, they had only stayed in Yujia Village for a few days before returning to Ajiu's hometown to meet her husband's family. The result was not as expected; they had traveled a long way and were attacked before reaching Ajiu's home.
During this period, Ajiu has been hiding from place to place with Ye Simei.
If it weren't for Ajiu's martial arts prowess, they would have been killed long ago. A while ago, the young couple was ambushed by a gang, and Ajiu was stabbed twice while trying to protect his wife. He was forced to flee to Dongxiang Town, where he saw a doctor and learned that Ye Simei was already pregnant.
As for how they found out the Zhou family's address, it was naturally because the young couple hid in the town for several days and went to Wa City to inquire about it.
Ye Jia's face darkened slightly after hearing this. She couldn't help but recall Zhou Jingchen's subtle gesture of pulling her back when they first met Ajiu, and she couldn't help but wonder about Ajiu's identity. An orphan who could have been ambushed must be someone extraordinary. But now, one of them was seriously injured, and the other pregnant. They couldn't leave in the middle of the night. After careful consideration, Ye Jia asked Old Man Sun to open the gate.
When they opened the door, they found two men and a mule standing there. Ah Jiu, pale-faced, was supported by Ye Simei, whose belly was slightly swollen. Behind them, a mule carrying luggage, began pacing anxiously after noticing Diandian.
Diandian stood in front of the yard, her pair of eyes glowing green so faintly that the young couple were so frightened that they could not move.
"Dian Dian." Ye Jia called out, "Come back."
Diandian, who was standing in front, stared at the stranger coldly, but still turned around and walked to Ye Jia's side obediently.
Yu didn't say anything, but just asked Ye Wumei to help her clean the house.
The Zhou family naturally had some empty rooms. This time, when Ye Jia bought the house, he specifically requested a large space with multiple rooms. Besides Ye Jia's room, Yu Shi, Ye Wumei, and Rui Jie'er shared a room, and Old Man Sun and his grandchildren shared a room, leaving several rooms empty.
While it wouldn't be a problem to take them in for a few days, Ye Jia couldn't keep them long-term. He couldn't blame Ye Jia for being cold-blooded, disregarding family ties during times of war and chaos. After all, the Zhou family consisted of the elderly, the weak, women, and children, and Ah Jiu was stained with blood. If they stayed, it would lead to the destruction of the entire family, which would be disastrous.
After the house was cleaned up, Old Man Sun led the two mules to the backyard. Ah Jiu's injuries were indeed quite serious. A knife wound went straight from his shoulder blade to the base of his spine. If it weren't for the luck that only the flesh was injured and not his internal organs, he would have died long ago.
"We brought our own medicine." Fourth Sister Ye's temperament had changed a lot recently. She used to be timid and awkward, but now she spoke much more fluently. She wasn't as shy and evasive as before. "Don't worry, Third Sister. I still have the money for my husband's medicine."
Ye Jia wasn't stingy with the small amount of money for the medicine; she simply couldn't afford such a burden. However, Fourth Sister Ye had made her point clear, so Ye Jia decided to make it clear as well. If she didn't speak up now, it would be difficult to speak up later.
She told them directly that she could only take them in for a few days, at most until Ajiu recovered from his injuries. The reason was also very clear: the elderly, the weak, the women and the children in the family were not capable of dealing with unknown dangers.
Honestly, Ye Jia's words were a bit harsh. Yu Shi had this concern in her heart, but she wouldn't say it out loud. Throughout history, even refusing favors has always been about being tactful and thoughtful. Yet, Ye Jia, as her elder sister, was blunt and blunt. Yu Shi secretly patted Ye Jia's arm, signaling her to be more tactful. Before she could even offer a word to Ye Jia's defense, Ah Jiu expressed her understanding.
"We understand Third Sister's worries." Indeed, Ajiu saw it clearly as soon as he came in.
The only person who could be considered a fighter in this house was the half-grown wolf standing at the door. "After he recovers from his injuries, he will take Yuanniang away immediately. My husband and I will not show our faces during this period of time and will not cause any trouble for you."
Ye Jia nodded, fearing that he might not be able to explain himself clearly and it would be difficult to explain later.
"In that case, it's so late, let's all rest."
The Zhou family had to get up at four in the morning to make pancakes and start their business. If they were delayed now, they might not be able to get up tomorrow morning. Fifth Sister Ye boiled some hot water for the young couple to wash up. Only then did Fourth Sister Ye notice Fifth Sister was at the Zhou residence. She opened her mouth to speak, but seeing that everyone had left and her husband was tired, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
Old Man Sun returned to the yard and locked the gate again. After checking carefully to make sure everything was OK, he went back to the house to rest.
At four o'clock the next morning, the Zhou family yard was already busy.
Ye Simei and her husband hadn't gotten a good night's sleep after all their travels. When they did, the noises in the yard didn't disturb them.
The backyard was bustling with activity. Soon, Ye Jia and Ye Wumei were leaving for the tile market to do business. Because the fragrant soap was in urgent demand, Yu and the children were frantically grinding the flour. They immediately set to work after the oxcart left. When Ye Simei awoke, the Zhou family's courtyard was filled with the sound of turning graphite.
Ye Simei felt a little embarrassed, so she washed up and came over to help with the work.
"Why do you need to do this? You're pregnant, so don't get yourself tired." A pregnant woman from an aristocratic family is precious, and Yu Shi didn't dare to ask her to do such physical work.
However, Yu glanced at her belly several times and couldn't help but feel a little sad: "How many months?"
Yu Shi also knew what had happened to Ye Simei, and her question was just a casual one. But when Ye Simei honestly said four months, she immediately realized she had asked the wrong question. How long had Ye Simei been married? This child must have been conceived during the incident. Nodding quickly, Yu Shi changed the subject: "What a blessing! Look at how healthy this child is... He will surely be a blessing in the future."
"Yes, nothing happened during this bumpy ride. The child is indeed very strong." Fourth Sister Ye's brows softened when she mentioned the child. "Sister and brother-in-law have been married for about half a year. I'm afraid good news is coming soon, right?"
This question really hit home with Yu, making her feel so depressed that she almost cried. Good news coming soon? Bullshit! Her stubborn son was so stupid that he had never even touched a finger. What a complainer!
Feeling uneasy, Yu mumbled a response, while Zhou Jingchen, who was being scolded by her inwardly, was about to suffer a bloody defeat. After surveying for thirty miles, they finally discovered some traces of bandit activity. They checked everywhere and walked ten miles deeper into the area, where they saw a large area of felt tents.
After determining the position, keep the troops in place and set up traps quietly and secretly.
Fighting horse bandits is different from a regular battle between two armies, especially in such an open area. The horse bandits are mobile. They are few in number, have horses, and are mobile. Guerrilla tactics are the only way to fight them. The baggage they brought with them on this expedition is not sufficient, only enough to sustain 300 men for a month at most. A prolonged battle would be unwise. The only option was to lure the enemy into a feigned defeat and then set up an ambush on their horses.
After surveying the terrain, Zhou Jingchen ordered a team to dig trenches and trap horses in areas frequented by bandits, leaving escape routes and deploying caltrops. Caltrops are typically made of iron with a hole in the center and strung together with ropes. While simple, they are incredibly effective in hindering enemy attacks.
Zhou Jingchen dispatched a group of men to stage a feint attack, harassing them with great fanfare, drawing the bandits out in pursuit. After a brief confrontation, they feigned defeat and fled in panic. For this feint, Zhou Jingchen specifically requested those skilled in theatrics to convince the enemy.
Deng Quchang, perhaps ashamed of his first command, mismanaged his troops and failed to fulfill his role as a leading general. Instead, he took the initiative and led a group of men to personally harass the bandits. If nothing else, Deng Quchang was a master at warfare. Each of his men was a skilled fighter. First, they seized the opportunity to launch a ferocious attack with drums and gongs, harassing the bandits to the utmost, leaving them furious.
Within a day, someone led seventy or eighty people out to chase and kill them. Then they pretended to be defeated, discarded their armor and fled in all directions.
Zhou Jingchen had already calculated the position and ordered his standard-bearer to wait in ambush. Before nightfall, he drew the enraged bandits into pursuit, while the standard-bearer secretly directed the feint attack team to retreat, luring the bandits into the ambush. A large number of soldiers were already ambushed in the trenches. Seeing the right moment, they pulled the caltrops, sinking the galloping horses deep into the pits. The soldiers in the dark then rushed forward to reap the victims.
The battle was fought so swiftly that forty or fifty people were killed in an instant.
The cries of killing erupted, and swords and knives swung from all directions. There was no way to dodge, as the horse pit was at least two feet deep, making it difficult to climb out. The remaining bandits, realizing the situation was amiss, reined in their horses and fled elsewhere. However, they discovered that the seemingly empty field was riddled with traps, a trap they hadn't anticipated. Someone in hiding pulled a rope, tripping the charging horse, and the rider landed on the ground, leaving a trail of caltrops.
The first group harvested, and after escaping the first group, there was another ambush a mile or two away. It was really hard to guard against.
The battle was a painstaking effort, all wiped out in less than a day. The bandits, further back in the felt tents, sensed something was amiss and fled. Meanwhile, the troops who had secretly circled behind the tents drew up their weapons and surrounded them from behind, joining the frontline in a two-pronged attack. A large bandit den of perhaps a hundred men, entrenched on this Western Region trade route for four or five years without a fight, was easily wiped out.
Among the few lieutenants left by Deng Quchang's side, a pale-faced lieutenant wanted to seize command, but his expression changed several times as he watched the dead and wounded bandits, and he was quite slow to react. When he finally reacted, he immediately rushed to the tent with his entire team, piercing him with a sharp look.
Their eyes met, and Zhou Jingchen spoke first: "Everyone, follow me to search!"
Before they could react, Zhou Jingchen had already assembled his troops and rushed into the yurt camp with a team of soldiers to search all directions. Those who could escape had already fled, and those who could not escape knelt on the ground and kowtowed for mercy.
Zhou Jingchen ordered his men to capture everyone, and then quickly turned the camp upside down.
The battlefield changed rapidly, and it was only when the chief clerk cut off the horse bandit's head and recorded his military achievements that the sky was getting dark.
As soon as it got dark, Zhou Jingchen immediately ordered a withdrawal.
By then, the yurt camp was in shambles, and the soldiers who had searched the camp had returned with a full load. Deng Quchang had chased the fleeing bandits for ten miles, but lost sight of them and had to return in disappointment. But when he returned to camp with his troops, he was overjoyed to see the cattle and sheep scattered across the ground. Having led such a difficult mission, he had braced himself for failure. In the end, only a handful were seriously wounded. What a relief!
Deng Quchang was so happy that he ordered his men to slaughter cattle and sheep and drink wine to celebrate, which made the soldiers cheer.
The bonfire was lit and the soldiers raised their glasses and drank.
In reality, if Deng Quchang had followed his original plan, he would have naturally led 300 men to attack the bandits head-on, killing as many as he could. How could a war fought by a strategic figure be compared to a war fought by a reckless man? With the right tactics, victory could be achieved without sacrificing a single soldier. Thinking of his achievements on this return trip, Deng Quchang's heart burned with excitement: "Come on! Call Cavalry Zhou! I need to have a drink with him today!"
Zhou Jingchen played an indispensable role in achieving this great victory with almost no casualties.
Zhou Jingchen hadn't planned to return yet. Since the bandit suppression had eliminated the main bandit gang, many scattered bandits had also been dealt with. While they were still debating how to deal with the situation, Ye Jia was in a dilemma. It wasn't a career dilemma, but rather the impact of Fourth Sister Ye's close relationship with Ajiu on Yu's family. She had been working peacefully by the well when she suddenly had the idea of asking Ye Jia to write a letter to Zhou Jingchen.
"I remember there were postmen who could deliver letters home during the march..."
While carefully sweeping the bean flour into the bowl, Yu turned around and spoke to Ye Jia, who was washing the pig pancreas: "I wonder if Yun'an is doing well on the march? It's been almost a month, and there's no news at all. Jia Niang, don't you have pen, ink, paper and inkstone at home? Why don't you write a letter to Yun'an and bring him some food..."
The first person Ye Jia met when she arrived in this world was Yu. Yu had a good personality, and the two of them got along very well. Naturally, she had special feelings for Yu. Most of the time, Ye Jia would listen to what Yu said: "It's not good, my husband is fighting."
"Why not? People away from home miss their families the most." Yu said with great experience, "Sometimes even a small letter from home can give people the faith to live. Besides, when Yun'an was home, he coveted the delicious food you cooked. It's not that my cooking skills are not good and I can't make delicious food, otherwise I wouldn't bother you to make it..."
...When it comes to trouble, there is a little bit of awkwardness.
Ye Jia glanced at her and said, "It's so hot out here. The food might go bad before it reaches my husband."
"Even if it's broken, it's still a token of my appreciation." Yu said, "Jia Niang, you have to do it. Yun An will be happy when he receives it."
Ye Jia: “…”
Okay, it’s not impossible to do.
"Okay," Ye Jia wasn't the shy type. She prepared the ingredients for the fragrant soap and then directed Old Man Sun to pound it. Fifth Sister Ye cleaned the pork head, and now even Fourth Sister Ye could help with the leeks, so she had her hands free. "But what to cook? Food cooked this way can only be kept for three days at most. Any longer and it'll go bad."
"What does my husband like to eat?" Ye Jia remembered that Zhou Jingchen seemed to be a bit picky about food.
How could Yu know? She just remembered that her youngest son was a secretive person, and hadn't had many food preferences since he was a child. But since the daughter-in-law she was trying to trick had contacted her son, she naturally said, "I like to eat anything. As long as it's made by you, Yun'an won't be picky."
...There's no need to pick a fight. She made fried coriander for him and saw that the man didn't eat coriander!
"Okay."
"It would be best if you could make some snacks that can be kept for a long time. Mother thinks fried food is great; it keeps well and tastes delicious." Upon hearing her agreement, Yu suggested with a smile, "Just fry something for him."
What could Ye Jia fry? Meat was definitely out of the question; it would get hot and smelly. She could only fry some pasta. After much thought, the first thing that came to her mind was an egg roll. It was also quite easy to make, with plenty of ingredients at home. If you tied it up tightly, it would last for ten days or half a month.
With this thought, Ye Jia packed up and went to knead the dough. She could only make homemade egg rolls, just for the novelty of it. Ye Jia had made them before: eggs, flour, sugar, and oil. If you like the flavor, you can add some sesame seeds. She added oil to the flour first, as it breaks down the gluten formation. Kneading with oil first would make the egg rolls crispier.
Then, she added sugar and salt to the outside and continued stirring, then cracked a few eggs into the batter. She'd taken out a pancake pan, heated it over low heat, and slowly rolled it into shape. It was incredibly simple to make: just mix the batter and control the heat.
Thinking that Zhou Jingchen couldn't eat anything too sweet, Ye Jia didn't put too much sugar in, and she was able to make a bunch in no time.
It's no secret that anything with eggs in it will taste delicious. When Ye Jia was cooking in the yard, the aroma was so fragrant that it was enough to make people wag their tails. Except for Ajiu who was seriously injured and bedridden, many people in the yard were working. At this moment, everyone who was busy looked over. Rui Jie'er and the two grandchildren of the Sun family were squatting not far away, their eyes green.
Ye Jia found it funny. After the first one was formed, he broke it into three petals and gave them to the three children to taste first.
The three children cheered and were very happy.
She made a small pot of it in one go. It was so crispy that it crumbled when touched. Ye Jia gave it to Yu and her two younger sisters to try. Ye Wumei was obviously the second one to fall into the money trap. After taking a bite, her first reaction was that it was delicious. Her second reaction was to ask her sister, "Sister, do you think we can move this to a stall to sell? I think it tastes better than the dim sum at the dim sum shop!"
Following Ye Jia, Fifth Sister Ye had even eaten dim sum several times. She was no longer as naive as she once was, thinking the dim sum shop's items were expensive. Fourth Sister Ye said nothing, but her eyes sparkled beside her. She hadn't yet run a business, but she had heard a lot about business practices, and she felt a little envious.
"It depends, take your time." Ye Jia didn't know what to use to pack this thing. He made a bunch of them, but felt that they might all crumble into pieces by the time they were delivered to Zhou Jingchen. So he decided to fry some gold threads.
Jinsi is a small Jiangnan pastry snack, a sweet and savory fried fruit. The dough is rolled out, cut into pieces, and then deep-fried. Back when Ye Jia was at her grandmother's house for Chinese New Year, she'd fried them for the children in the yard. They were crispy right out of the pan, and Ye Jia found this old-fashioned snack quite delicious.
After thinking about it, I started beating eggs and kneading the dough. There was still a lot of goat's milk left at home, and I brought back a bucket of it every day. I added all the leftovers, some black sesame seeds, some sugar, cut them into thumb-sized pieces, and fried them in a big pot.
After the food was served, Yu took a handful and couldn't stop eating. She had eaten countless dim sum in the past, but this kind of simple, slightly milky snack was new to her. As she ate, she nodded, "Yun'an will definitely like this."
Ye Jia smiled and thought, he has to like it even if he doesn't like it.
Yu Shi was serious about sending something to Zhou Jingchen. She had already inquired about it a few days ago and found a messenger. In fact, even if she hadn't mentioned it today, Yu Shi still wanted to send a letter to Zhou Jingchen. She wrote the letter herself and kept it in the room. Now Ye Jia found a fur cushion to wrap the item and brought it out to her.
Yu said that she had already found someone, and seeing that she was willing to help, Ye Jia asked her to go and deliver it.
After washing his hands, he went inside to change clothes and prepare to wash his hair and take a shower. The bad thing about deep-fried food is that the fumes fill your head. Since the weather got hot, Ye Jia only washed his hair once every three days. He then went to the kitchen to boil some water.
After watching her leave, Yu went inside and took out the letter she had written earlier. Thinking of anything else she could bring back from home, Yu wandered around the yard and suddenly saw a small, bright red dress hanging on the clothesline. With a thought, she turned her head and glanced at the east room where Ye Jia lived. She immediately ripped the dress off Ye Jia, wrapped it up, and sent it to the post station.
Not to mention that Ye Jia was a little surprised to find that a piece of clothing was missing when she washed up at night. She wondered if the small clothing had blown away by the wind. It took Zhou Jingchen more than ten days to receive the item.
He had just returned from work, completely exhausted. He was overjoyed to hear it was something from home. He was stunned when he received the large package, wondering what it was. Then, when he opened it, he found a small, bright red dress. He was so frightened he almost dropped the package.
Zhou Jingchen: “…”
After a pause, he blushed and bent down to pick up the clothes and stuffed them into his arms, thinking:...What is Jianiang doing!
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