Chapter 58
You really won’t know unless you try, but isn’t Ye Jia still waiting and weighing the pros and cons?
It wasn't that she lacked courage, but she needed to be confident before making any decisions. After all, Zhou Jingchen and the Zhou family had never revealed anything to her. Even if Ye Jia knew from the beginning, it was only because of her luck. It didn't mean she was trusted or recognized, nor did it mean she could unilaterally assume that she could take advantage of this opportunity or manipulate others' minds.
Ye Jia never felt inferior, but she was also very self-aware. Why did she think she was smarter than Zhou Jingchen, and that her subtle tricks would definitely move or charm Zhou Jingchen into falling head over heels for her? The plot in the TV series was the screenwriter's imagination.
"If you don't try, how do you know I can't be consistent?" Zhou Jingchen stared at Ye Jia intently, his hands resting on the table, hanging naturally. His wrist bones were prominent, his knuckles were white and slender, and his nails were neatly trimmed, with a slight pink tinge. Ye Jia unconsciously stared at those slender hands as he said, with a hint of temptation, "Why can't you be bolder and assume that I am different from other men?"
Ye Jia: "...Excuse me, did you touch your face when you said this?"
Zhou Jingchen curled his lips and raised his hand that was hanging by the table to touch his cheek. Although he had the expression of a gentleman, the words he said were extremely shameless: "I touched it."
Ye Jia: “…”
Seeing Ye Jia was choked and speechless, Zhou Jingchen smiled.
He stood up, walked over, and sat down beside Ye Jia in a dignified manner. The two of them faced each other, and the candlelight from the direction of the table cast a huge shadow on Zhou Jingchen. The shadow cast on the wall completely enveloped Ye Jia. He blinked slowly and opened his lips and said, "Jia Niang, I won't let you down. Why don't you try me?"
Who said this guy was a modest gentleman? How dare he call himself gentle and kind with this attitude?
"I..." Ye Jia stammered. It wasn't that he couldn't give it a try. It was just that this matter needed to be based on a mutual retreat. If it were modern times, then he would give it a try. After all, the general environment was tolerant, and if they were compatible, they would gather together, and if they weren't, they would disperse. But how could he try it in ancient times?
"This test you mentioned is too realistic. How can I test you?"
Zhou Jingchen would say this, but he certainly wouldn't set a trap. He wanted Ye Jia's heart, not her body or some temporary pleasure. He lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment before suddenly reaching out and hooking his hand around Ye Jia's neck. His movements weren't forceful; she could easily break free. He simply lured her toward him, tilted his head slightly, and pressed his lips against hers, a gentle touch.
Ye Jia's gaze fell on his lips, the color of which was like a faint trace of red ink, gradually deepening and moistening from the inside out. The color was excellent, but the man had a cold and inviolable look on his face, which was extremely alluring.
The moment their lips touched, Ye Jia was hooked by him and didn't move.
Zhou Jingchen lowered his eyes and gazed into Ye Jia's. Sensing she wasn't repulsed, he gently bit her lower lip, then sucked it. Ye Jia's lips were soft, and after rinsing her mouth, a faint tea fragrance lingered.
With Ye Jia's indulgence, Zhou Jingchen openly used the tip of his tongue to pry open her lips and teeth and then put it into her mouth.
Outside, heavy snow, mixed with a chilly wind, whistled past, rattling the window frames. The wick on the tabletop crackled, and the light flickered for a moment. The only sounds in the quiet room were the two people's kisses and their slightly chaotic, heavy breathing. After a long moment, Ye Jia felt her body weaken, a tingling sensation running through her mind, before Zhou Jingchen finally released her swollen lips from his sucking.
"Jia Niang, I won't really touch you without your permission."
Zhou Jingchen's Adam's apple moved up and down, his expression was polite and elegant, and it seduced Ye Jia so much that she wanted to strip him naked immediately.
Her breathing became increasingly rapid, and Zhou Jingchen gave her one last, gentle nibble before restraining himself and releasing her. He rested his head on Ye Jia's shoulder, his arms tightly wrapped around her. He pecked her neck again, his voice hoarse, "But you have to promise me that you won't allow anyone else to do this to you except me. Even if you meet someone more attractive in the future, you can't."
Ye Jia's head was buzzing, and all she could hear was the pounding of her own heartbeat. Her mind was in a mess. She tried hard to control her distracted mind, but she still felt lightning flashing before her eyes.
"You say you won't force me, but you're limiting my second choice, Zhou Jingchen. Where did this unfair clause come from?" Ye Jia, a true woman destined for a life of loneliness, was quick to recognize the inappropriateness of the words even then. Zhou Jingchen, despite his pretense of generosity, was actually a domineering person at heart. "Just because you have demands on me, you can let it go your way?"
Ye Jia took a deep breath, straightened her tongue and pushed him away: "Any contract is a two-way thing, and the rights and responsibilities are also two-way."
"You really haven't suffered any loss at all," Zhou Jingchen laughed, sitting up straight but staring at Ye Jia's face. "It's the same for me. What I ask you to do naturally applies to me as well."
As soon as the words fell, Ye Jia was stunned.
She lowered her eyes and thought for a moment, then raised her head and asked suspiciously, "...Are you sure?"
"A gentleman's word is as good as gold."
Zhou Jingchen's promise was so firm, so why was Ye Jia so unsure?
You have to remember that this was ancient times, when it was legal for men to have three wives and four concubines. Zhou Jingchen was so outrageous as to ask her for such a 'trial contract'? Even if a person is very tolerant, they are still subject to the limitations of the times, right? Ye Jia felt something was amiss. Seeing her frown as she weighed the pros and cons, Zhou Jingchen added fuel to the fire: "If I can't do this, you can take all my money and kick me out."
"Do you have money?" Ye Jiacai was not fooled and rolled his eyes at him. "I earned all the money. It's mine."
Zhou Jingchen choked, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "Then I will give you all my salary? And my salary will be included in the future?"
Ye Jia thought about it and decided that if he didn't give money, he would be a fool.
She nodded happily: "Okay, once you've made a promise, you can't go back on your word."
After a pause, she couldn't help but ask again, as was her usual business habit: "Do you want to write a deed?"
Zhou Jingchen: “…”
Zhou Jingchen didn't hesitate, turning back to his work and writing a contract. He somehow possessed such a certain air of confidence that Ye Jia couldn't find a single flaw in his writing. Not only did he write the contract, he also signed and sealed it, then reached into his sleeve and handed Ye Jia his entire salary of thirty taels. Ye Jia held the money in her hand and watched him rise to clear the table, then carry the empty bowl and chopsticks out the door.
Really give it to her? Ye Jia doubted where he got such conviction from, but she still honestly stuffed the thirty taels under her pillow.
…
The door creaked open, and Zhou Jingchen took the dishes and went to the kitchen to wash them. As he washed, the corners of his mouth curled up.
After he finished cleaning up and came out of the kitchen with an umbrella, he ran into Lin Zeyu who had opened the door and came out of Old Man Sun's room. Lin Zeyu was a little afraid of Zhou Jingchen. He was going to the toilet, but now he could only stand there stiffly. Because the room had to be vacated to make room for the kang, the room he had previously slept in was occupied by Yu Shi and Ye Wumei. With nowhere else to sleep, he was forced to sleep in Old Man Sun's room. The three of them, the grandfather and the grandson, had always lived in Old Man Sun's room. The three of them didn't take up much space. They could also sleep with a half-grown boy.
Zhou Jingchen glanced at him, and Lin Zeyu's hair stood on end. He immediately bowed obediently: "Master."
A standard etiquette for a servant of an aristocratic family. Lin was a vassal of the She family, trained from childhood to serve his master. How could a servant of an aristocratic family be incompetent and incapable of understanding others' feelings? Lin Zeyu had been unmoved since arriving at the Zhou family, perhaps because he saw the family in ruins. A woman of modest means, living in a small farmyard and a house, treating her masters like country bumpkins.
The heavy snow and wind stung his face, causing pain. Zhou Jingchen's voice was icy, "Jia Niang is kindhearted. Seeing you're young, she couldn't bear to criticize you. She's not the kind of person who would let you be neglected. If I catch you cheating again next time, you don't have to stay in the Zhou family anymore."
If it weren't for the fact that he could control Gu Mingyue later, Zhou Jingchen wouldn't have kept Lin Zeyu. It was quite amusing to think that Gu Mingyue, a woman who would make any man lose his mind, was as timid as a mouse seeing a cat when she saw Lin Zeyu. It was a pity that Lin Zeyu had been killed by him in his previous life, and it was too early. Otherwise, Gu Mingyue wouldn't have destroyed his unfinished world.
After saying this, Zhou Jingchen glanced at him coldly and left with an umbrella.
Lin Zeyu lowered his head for a long time, and only raised his head quietly after the footsteps faded away.
The cold wind made him shiver, and he tightened his clothes and ran into the snow. Lin Zeyu was also puzzled. He didn't know who the male owner of the Zhou family was, but why did he look so intimidating?
The kitchen was a few steps away from the front room. When Zhou Jingchen returned to the room, Ye Jia was still awake. She was pretending to be dead, her eyes closed. He sat down beside the bed, holding an oil lamp and, with a click, placed it on the bedside table. As soon as the sound fell, Ye Jia lay motionless on the bed. Diandian, nestled down below, glanced up lazily at him. Zhou Jingchen slowly took off his shoes.
His hands grabbed the quilt, and Ye Jia finally opened her eyes a crack. Then she found Zhou Jingchen looking at her.
Ye Jia: “…”
Zhou Jingchen grabbed a corner of the quilt and said politely, "Jia Niang, can you lie down a little further in?"
Ye Jia silently leaned in a little, and Zhou Jingchen fell asleep beside her. There was an icy aura about him, probably the result of standing in the wind for a long time. As he approached, the feeling of being cramped enveloped Ye Jia. It was not like they had never slept in the same bed before, but why was this time so tense?
Zhou Jingchen sighed softly and silently moved closer to Ye Jia. The rustling sound of his clothes rubbing against the quilt made her scalp tingle, and Ye Jia's breathing became a little short. Zhou Jingchen didn't deliberately force her. After all, teasing her would never make him feel good.
After thinking about it, he withdrew his hands and feet very honestly.
But he was honest, and Ye Jia wasn't. Ever since the snow began to fall, the weather had been getting colder by the day. On such windy nights, Ye Jia's bed was always hard to warm up. His hands and feet were also freezing. Zhou Jingchen was sleeping in the middle of the night when he felt a pair of cold, ghostly feet rudely thrust between his legs. The chill startled him, and he opened his eyes, and then a soft body nestled into his arms.
It was really arched, the kind that pressed close to me without even opening my eyes. Zhou Jingchen looked at the person who was sleeping soundly in his arms in the moonlight, and didn't understand why this person's feet were so cold when they were covered in the quilt.
Zhou Jingchen soon understood why. It was because he was so warm. When he got too hot, he would stick his feet out of the covers to cool them down. When they got cold outside, he would bring them back in and hold them against his body. When they were warm, he would stick them out again, and when they got cold, he would hold them back.
Zhou Jingchen: “…”
After struggling for a long time, Zhou Jingchen simply clamped his legs together, holding the pair of unruly feet tightly. Finally, he could sleep peacefully.
The next morning, Ye Jia felt an inexplicable pain in her ankle. When she opened her eyes, the bed was empty. She stretched her ankle, put on her clothes, and got up. She opened the door and saw that the heavy snow had stopped, leaving the yard covered in white again. The clearing she had swept yesterday was now covered in snow again. Ye Jia looked up at the sky and, half-asleep, heard the thud of chopping wood in the quiet yard.
She wondered who was so free to go chop wood so early in the morning, but when she went around to the back of the house, she found it was Zhou Jingchen. She didn't know how long he'd been chopping, but his forehead was slightly damp with sweat. He was wearing thin clothes, and when he noticed someone approaching, he looked up.
Seeing that it was Ye Jia, he raised his eyes and subconsciously smiled at her.
Ye Jia was a little dazed from sleep. She tugged at her cotton-padded jacket and walked over. As she approached, Zhou Jingchen used his free hand to smooth down her hair, which had fallen on her shoulders. Then, he leaned over and gently pressed his head against her lips.
Ye Jia: “…”
Ye Jia: “!!!!”
Ye Jia: "What are you doing!!!"
Zhou Jingchen threw the axe aside and glanced at her: "Are you sure you won't hit me?"
“????”
Zhou Jingchen nodded and said, "...It seems not. It was true last night."
Ye Jia's face flushed suddenly. Just as she was about to speak, she heard the sound of chaotic footsteps behind her. They both turned their heads to see Yu Shi, deep in thought. She usually walked at a leisurely pace, but today, she was so frantic her legs seemed to fly. Even the thick snow on the ground couldn't stop her; she scurried under the eaves and disappeared.
Ye Jia: “…”
Never mind, never mind, just make her happy.
Actually, I was just about to ask you why you were so confused so early in the morning, but when you interrupted me, Ye Jia forgot about it. She looked up and met Zhou Jingchen's gaze, then decided to forget it. She was originally just wondering who would go out to chop firewood in the snow instead of sleeping properly, but now that it was Zhou Jingchen, she guessed that he must have something on his mind and couldn't sleep, so she prepared to go back to wash up.
He casually asked Zhou Jingchen what he wanted to eat in the morning. When he heard that he wanted something hot, Ye Jia nodded and went back to the front yard.
Because of yesterday's lesson, the stall wasn't open for breakfast today. Without business, Ye Wumei slept in a bit late, only getting dressed and pushing open the door at noon. When she emerged, Ye Jia was already in the kitchen, kneading dough for a meal of mutton dumplings.
Yu had already learned how to knead the dough and make dumplings, and the two of them worked together, quickly making over a hundred.
Zhou Jingchen and Ajiu may look thin, but when it comes to eating, they're two real gluttons. It's hard to tell where all the food they eat goes. They can eat thirty dumplings in one sitting, like the size of half Ye Jia's palm. Looking at the hundred or so dumplings, Yu Shi still worries it won't be enough. With winter approaching, the women in the family tend to eat more. "Or I could make a few more, and if we can't finish them, we can save them for tomorrow."
Ye Jia let her do what she wanted. After all, there was no shortage of food at home, so she could eat whatever she wanted.
Yu happily finished wrapping the remaining dough. Making dumplings was simple: boil water, add the hot water, and cook until the dumplings float. Ye Jia had already prepared the soup base; those who didn't like soup could make their own dipping sauce. Yu, not sure what had just occurred to her when she saw her son and daughter-in-law being affectionate in the backyard, let Ye Jia go back to rest, seeing her expression languid.
"It's cold, and it looks like we won't be able to do business today. If you have nothing to do, just go back inside and rest." Yu pushed her while putting dumplings in the hot pot. "Come on, come on. I'll ask Yuanniang or Diniang to bring them over when they're ready."
Ye Jia didn't force it, and on her way out, she bumped into Lin Zeyu. This kid was really smart today, getting up early and coming here.
Their eyes met, and Lin Zeyu bowed to Ye Jia.
Ye Jia raised an eyebrow and asked him to bring the basin inside. She then stepped past him and returned to her room. Even though the shop couldn't be opened, the soap still had to be made. Old Man Sun skipped breakfast and drove to Lihua Lane to deliver the goods. The girls in Lihua Lane were truly supporting Ye Jia's business, and they were truly well-off.
The family's bath beans were all gone, and since they'd been making and distributing the scented soap, they didn't have much left. Seeing the dwindling supply, Ye Jia considered going to Libei Town to stock up. As for Xu Youcai, Ye Jia would never cooperate again.
After delivering the goods, Old Man Sun came back and was busy going to Libei Town.
Ye Jia figured this wasn't going to work; he needed to find a source of bath beans as soon as possible. He couldn't run his family's breakfast stall or pork head business anymore. Winter had arrived, and the townspeople rarely ventured out. The streets were deserted, and the shops were all closed during the winter stockpiling season. Thinking about the Cheng family's promise that they'd have no more goods by the end of December, and that they'd have to partner with merchants in Luntai, Ye Jia felt a surge of anxiety.
After breakfast, Zhou Jingchen went to the base, and Ye Jia kept Ajiu to question him.
"Sister, of course you can leave." Ah Jiu had already told his brothers about this yesterday. Everyone was waiting for the money to celebrate the New Year. Yesterday, they were all asking when to leave, but: "Sister, can you bear this hardship? Most men can't bear this hardship."
Of course Ye Jia can eat bitter food. She has been to Africa for half a year and has eaten all kinds of insects.
"Besides, is your brother-in-law happy for you to go out?"
"He doesn't care." Ye Jia waved his hand.
Ajiu looked at her: "..." Really? He didn't believe it. It was obvious that his brother-in-law was not a man who was tolerant in this regard.
Of course, he didn't say this out loud. Recalling the night he ran into his brother-in-law washing pants alone, Ajiu actually realized something. His sister's temper was much more severe than Yuanniang's. Thinking about it, Ajiu couldn't help but sigh. A man like his brother-in-law would have to accommodate his sister when he met him. Yuanniang was still the best. His Yuanniang was as gentle as water.
Ye Jia didn't know what Ajiu was thinking. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Looking at the weather, it will probably stop in the evening. If we can leave, let's make arrangements as soon as possible."
"Of course." Ajiu nodded.
Ajiu was certainly experienced in traveling to Luntai in the dead of winter. He'd been following fur traders around the time he was thirteen or fourteen, trading furs in winter. Because prey was plentiful at this time, the furs of wild animals were thicker and warmer, making them a hot commodity around Luntai. He could earn enough from a single trip to cover his expenses for two years. However, he'd always been on horseback, so if Ye Jia wanted to go, she'd have to take a car.
After thinking it over, Ye Jia also felt that it was not appropriate to go with him, as it would delay things: "Otherwise, Ajiu, can your people take on this job?"
"Let's not talk about this long-term cooperation. I'll pay your people to run a trip to Luntai for me." The long-term supplier wasn't in a rush; the most important thing now was to get the bath beans. "The conditions are tough, so I'm willing to offer a higher price. If you brothers are willing to take this order, I'd be very grateful."
Ajiu naturally didn't mind running, as they resold furs in the winter every year. However, Ajiu was worried that Ye Jia would look down on the things she bought: "But sister, if we don't buy good things..."
"That's fine. Just go to the workshop and buy some moderately priced bath beans."
Ye Jia said this, and Ajiu felt relieved: "I will discuss this matter with them, and I will let you know when I come back."
That’s settled.
Ye Jia was preparing for a rainy day, figuring that if Old Man Sun could get enough goods from Libei Town to last him through this delivery to the Cheng family, he could also postpone his trip to Luntai. With luck, he might even be able to make it until the beginning of next spring.
But it was clear that Ye Jia, who had always had good luck, had also fallen on hard times. The bath bean shop in Libei Town had closed. Old Man Sun had visited several others, but all were closed. He even went to the owner's house, but they were out of stock. Old Man Sun spent a whole day running around, only to return with an empty cart. When he reached Ye Jia, he stammered for a long time, unable to speak, feeling deeply guilty.
"No problem. It's snowing heavily and the roads are blocked. It's normal that we can't buy anything. Let's think of another way." Ye Jia had expected this. Dongxiang Town was closed, so Libei Town would definitely not be much better.
It seems inevitable to go out to purchase goods.
I wonder what the negotiations are going on with Ajiu. Ye Jia estimated that a typical escort would earn at most half a tael of silver for a round trip to Luntai. If the cargo was heavy or the journey was long, the price could go up to seven or eight qian of silver. In the snowy weather, the conditions were harsh, so the price would have to be at least doubled. Ye Jia's price in mind was naturally two taels per person.
Ah Jiu went out and didn't come back for a long time. Ye Jia was a little anxious. But if it really didn't work, she had no choice but to give up.
Money is important, but life is more important.
Fortunately, Ajiu returned that evening with good news. Ajiu's brothers had harvested furs and were going to Luntai to sell them this year. He was on his way, so he could go check out the bath beans. The bad news was that there was renewed activity in Libei Town. It sounded uneasy, and the bandits had attacked the village earlier than before, suggesting a war was imminent.
Ye Jia's heart skipped a beat, and he felt a little uneasy: "Is the news true?"
"It's true." Ajiu took a special look when he came back. "Libei Town is in chaos right now. Everyone in one village has fled to the town. I heard it's a Rakshasa ghost from the grassland. Some people from the garrison should have gone there too."
This incident was like a huge stone hitting the hearts of everyone in the Zhou family.
Yu was a little scared, holding her sleeves, but she remained calm and said, "Wait a little longer, and ask Yun An when he comes back in the evening."
However, not only did Zhou Jingchen's men fail to return that evening, but there was also a major disturbance at the garrison. Thousands of troops were dispatched in the dead of night, suddenly conducting a house-to-house search of the town. It was rumored that a Turkic spy in the garrison had been exposed and had fled overnight. The Kashgar defense map also disappeared. Oghuz ordered the arrest of many of his subordinates who had drowned at sea, and quickly sealed off the town.
The soldiers who knocked on the door were acquainted with the Zhou family. Knowing they were the family of Sima Zhou, they treated them with respect. Yu Shi didn't make things difficult for them and let them in to look around.
There was no one around, so Ye Jia even brought them a large plate of hot dumplings to fill their stomachs. He then took the opportunity to ask about something: "So many people were dispatched last night, did something happen?"
A town's garrison could only hold a few thousand soldiers at most. After all, the vast Beiting Protectorate only had a mere five hundred thousand soldiers. Kashgar County, being closest to the border, had more troops stationed there, but Ye Jia estimated it wouldn't exceed thirty thousand. With so many towns and villages down there, she quickly calculated in her mind that the Dongxiang Town garrison could only hold two to three thousand men at most.
"Well, isn't it because the people above are fighting and the people below are suffering?" The soldiers were soft-hearted and told the story.
The current situation stems from a conflict between the old and new leaders of the garrison. Initially, Ogus unexpectedly surrounded the Shen residence and arrested Shen Hai, accusing him of colluding with bandits and exploiting the local population for years. Shen Hai then wrote again, seeking help. The Shen family dispatched a representative to mediate, attempting to persuade Ogus to release Shen Hai. The conflict between the two sides also embroiled the Hongshan Zengqing Mine.
Once this thing was exposed, both sides wanted to monopolize it, and naturally they completely fell out.
Unable to swallow this humiliation, the Shen family spread rumors that the Oghuz were colluding with the Turks. They used this as an excuse to cause a major disturbance in the camp. The internal strife within the camp was reported by spies, and immediately, unrest erupted along the northern border.
Originally, the Shen family had been maliciously trying to pin the blame on Oguz, but a few days ago, it was discovered that Oguz's study had been robbed, and years of Kashgar's defense maps had disappeared. This had become a major incident, and the Shen family was now spreading rumors that Oguz had committed the theft. After all, only Oguz's people could enter both his study and the Shen family's study.
How could Ogus possibly admit to such a false accusation? He insisted that the Shen family was framing him.
Before either side could decide who was superior, a garrison commander named Chen deserted the station overnight. Someone claimed to have seen Chen Zhen secretly interacting with a Turkic person, and the situation immediately became serious. Libei Town had been attacked, and coupled with the theft of the defense map two weeks prior, the connection was clear: war was imminent.
Now both sides have stopped fighting. Things have become serious. If Luntai speaks out, no one here will benefit.
Ye Jia felt bad after hearing this. She politely sent the search soldiers away and locked the yard. Her eyelids had been twitching recently, and she was anxious about when Zhou Jingchen would be able to climb up and get to the bottom of all these troubles.
"I wonder when Yunan will come back..."
Yu was also very worried. Zhou Jingchen had not returned for three consecutive days, and the rumors were spreading everywhere, which made her feel uneasy.
Ye Jia hadn't left the house these days, so she often used the excuse of delivering food to the base. She didn't run into anyone she knew, not even Liu Yuan or Sun Yushan, and her insinuations were all deflected by the sentries. They told her not to hang around the base unless necessary, and to stay away if something was happening. Ye Jia had no choice but to patiently wait for the snow to stop at home.
After waiting for four or five days, when the heavy snow stopped, Ajiu came over and said, "Sister, you should send someone to go with us."
It's not that Ajiu can't do this, but brothers should settle accounts clearly. Ask Ye Jia to send another person to follow, so that the price can be negotiated when they come back. But Ye Jia's group is full of women, and it's not convenient for everyone to go with them except Old Man Sun. Old Man Sun can accept this. He has gone out in the snow in recent years: "The boss asked me to go."
Old Man Sun said with a smile, "Boss, don't look down on my age. My arms and legs are still very strong. But I'll be away for a while, so I'll have to trouble you to take care of Brother Junzi."
Since he said so, Ye Jia agreed.
Once the man left, the house would be filled with women. Ye Jia was a little worried and simply closed the shop.
"Let's just close the shop." The family doesn't need this little bit of money these days; they can get by even without any income for the entire winter. "In a couple of days, a bricklayer will come and fix the kang in the room where Fourth Sister and Uncle Sun live."
Yu naturally knew this. Having had this experience once, she naturally knew how to arrange it.
"Remember to protect yourself on the road. Money is something you can't bring with you when you're born, so don't risk your life for it." Ye Jia said to Old Man Sun and Ajiu before leaving. "It doesn't matter if you can't buy bath beans. Just come back safe and sound."
Ajiusun and the old man naturally responded.
With Old Man Sun and Ajiu gone, the Zhou family felt thin. With only women and children in the house, Ye Jia felt uneasy. She thought her intuition was somewhat accurate, especially since arriving in this world. She often knew something was about to happen when her eyelids twitched. These past few days, her eyelids had been twitching like they were cramping, so Ye Jia simply called out all the women in the family.
"Let's dig a couple more traps." The traps in the corners of the house hadn't been repaired for a long time. Ye Jia wasn't sure if they were still sharp enough. "Dig out the traps inside and clean them. Rearrange the pits outside."
Although Yu Shi didn't share Ye Jia's sense of urgency, she always trusted Ye Jia's judgment. She had been there when the soldiers came to search for her, and she had heard everything Ye Jia had asked them. With only a few hundred soldiers in the garrison, that number always felt insufficient. "I'll get a shovel and dig a few more pits."
Yu remembered that there were still some nailed tiles left in the utility room that Ye Jia had bought earlier, so she thought it would be more reassuring to dig a few more and bury them underground.
Fourth sister Ye was in the house taking care of the children and couldn't come out. Fifth sister Ye didn't say anything and went to get a small shovel and followed Yu Shi to work. Rui Jie'er was too young to understand what the adults were doing. She followed behind Ye Jia and talked with a smile. Ye Jia was afraid that she would step into the pit if she stepped on it, so she quickly pushed her aside: "Go, go, stop hanging around here, go back to the house."
Rui Jieer pouted and looked a little aggrieved, but still walked away obediently.
Sun Jun silently followed Yu's lead as they dug. In a blink of an eye, they had resurfaced all the previously dug holes. They dug out the accumulated snow and dirt, replaced the tiles, and then covered them with a thin layer of grass, making it impossible to tell the difference from the outside.
Ye Jia dug around the edge of the wall, digging around the area where the animal traps were set. These traps were made of wood, with a layer of iron nails hammered into them. Left sitting in the snow, they had become somewhat rusty and looked less sharp than they had been before. Ye Jia frowned, thinking that the nails would need to be re-sharpened.
At the same time, Ajiu vaguely felt that something was wrong.
After they'd walked for dozens of miles, the animals were growing restless. Ajiu and his group had piled a load of furs, and perhaps they hadn't handled them properly, but it seemed to have attracted something to follow them. During this snowy season, many wild animals in the mountains, unable to find food, would resort to desperate measures. They'd go further down the mountain, into open areas to hunt.
Hungry beasts are particularly dangerous at this time. Ajiu looked up at the sky.
It was still early, and the next town they could stay in wasn't too far away, so he said, "Don't panic, just go."
People who frequently hunt in the mountains are naturally brave. With Ajiu's words, the others calmed down. The weather was cold, and the roads were covered in snow, making movement difficult. As long as they reached their next stop before dark, nothing would happen.
The animals grew increasingly restless. The lagging mules could no longer resist the clamor of stamping their hooves and neighing to the sky. The last two men guarding the mule cart drew their swords from their waists and, while reining in their horses, scanned the surroundings rapidly. But the snow obscured their vision. Smaller beasts, like wolves and leopards, would have been in the way.
If it was a leopard, it would be fine, as leopards travel alone. But if it was a wolf, it would be terrible, as wolves would come in packs.
"Boss," the people at the back didn't dare to relax. The people on both sides of the mule cart squeezed their mounts and came to the front, "Are we getting closer?"
Ajiu kept his eyes and ears alert, talking to his men while his eyes scanned the vast expanse of snow. There were no clear tracks in the snow, and such a thick layer would restrict the movements of wild animals. Unless they were close, they shouldn't bother to startle them. Encountering a leopard would be fine, but a pack of hungry wolves would be impossible to shake off.
"Hurry up." The few people we brought this time were all very skilled in martial arts. They had all prepared their weapons before leaving, with bows hanging from their waists and quivers slung over their backs, making it easy to shoot. "It's okay. Don't provoke them until they get close. Sangluo Town is just ahead."
The man listened and nodded, then rode back to his original position in silence.
The mule cart sped along, its wheels creaking through the snow. After they'd been traveling for the better part of an hour, a long, drawn-out wolf howl echoed from the snow. Though it was impossible to tell how many wolves were there, the cry instantly rattled everyone's nerves. A dire situation had emerged; it wasn't a leopard following them, but a pack of wolves. There was no telling how many were hiding in the snow.
Ajiu's expression turned stern, and he gave the order without hesitation: "Shoot!"
Suddenly, there was a chaotic clatter of horses' hooves, followed by a sharp, agonizing cry. Mixed in with the heavy breathing of wild beasts, one, two, three, emerged. Old Man Sun had never seen such a scene before. Even though he had fought on the battlefield and killed people before, he felt a little frightened. The wolves surrounded the group. Although the people brought by Ajiu were all highly skilled in martial arts, they were now outnumbered.
The wolves in the snow were utterly starving. They attacked desperately to survive, until a wolf half the height of a man howled and lunged at Ajiu. Suddenly, there was the sound of an arrow piercing the air, and one of them struck the wolf squarely in the head.
The wolf vomited blood in mid-air and fell to the ground.
Ajiu was sprayed in the face with the smelly blood. His hand holding the blade trembled a little, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses. The sound of arrows whizzing in his ears and the wolves howling were heard. Ajiu looked closely and saw a man riding a horse not far ahead, holding a bow and arrow and making a plan. He saw who it was and finally shouted in surprise: "Brother-in-law!"
Zhou Jingchen raised his hand and made a gesture, and the people around him quickly fired arrows, instantly killing a pack of thirty wolves. After everything was over, he rode his horse over to Ajiu.
During their time at the Zhou family, Ah Jiu and Zhou Jingchen, the two sons-in-law of the Ye family, had somehow always seemed out of place. They were polite to each other due to their status, but Ah Jiu always felt that his brother-in-law looked down on him. Just today's action had instantly changed his image of Zhou Jingchen. He took Zhou Jingchen's arm and stood up, and the two began to speak.
Zhou Jingchen was ordered to investigate the theft of the defense map and had been traveling a lot recently. He asked about the women in Ajiu's family and was relieved to learn that Ye Jia and Yu Shi were both safe and sound at home.
"My sister is very cautious. She will always think of a way to deal with things when something happens." Ajiu sighed.
"That's right," Zhou Jingchen smiled when he mentioned Ye Jia. "Since we're going to Luntai in the east, let's leave tonight. I don't think the journey will be very safe, and things might happen at night."
Ajiu's heart skipped a beat, and when he saw that Zhou Jingchen didn't seem to be joking, he immediately became serious.
They had a base in Qianyi Town. Since they had run into each other, Ajiu led his men to Zhou Jingchen's base. Old Man Sun rarely met his son, so the father and son had dinner together. After dinner, Zhou Jingchen called Ajiu into his study. The two of them closed the door and talked for a long time. After they came out, Ajiu and his men set off under the cover of night.
Ye Jia didn't know what was going on with Ajiu yet. After she rearranged the trap, she felt that the gate of her yard was not strong enough. She thought about reinforcing the door of her house, but it was not easy to find a carpenter in this weather.
"Let's add a few more bolts to the door." The bolts of that time were different from the smaller bolts of later times. They were wooden crossbars that could be completely stuck to the walls on either side of the door. Adding three more, running from top to bottom across the door, would effectively prevent impacts. Ye Jia felt that his actions were a bit excessive, but he preferred to do more to give himself more time to escape in the event of danger.
The two masons who came to build the Zhou family's kang happened to know a little about carpentry. Ye Jia gave them a rough guide on how to nail the slots, and that same day they added three horizontal bolts to the courtyard door.
As a result, Ye Jia really predicted it. That night, there were noises inside and outside the Zhou family's yard.
Unsure of what was going on, Yu heard screams outside the courtyard at night. Unafraid to alert anyone outside, she stalked to Ye Jia's door in the dark, knocking softly and calling for help. Ye Jia was sound asleep that night, but Diandian was watching inside. Diandian woke her in the middle of the night, grabbed a knife, and opened the door, calling for Yu and the others to come in.
Yu was suddenly frightened by a pair of oily green wolf eyes in the darkness, but after realizing that it was the little thing her son had brought back, she patted her chest for a long time to catch her breath and said, "I was so scared! Why are the eyes of this thing so scary!"
Because there was movement outside, they did not dare to light the lights. Ye Jia smiled and said, "Dian Dian is very alert, mother, don't panic."
Yu glanced at Diandian again. She had wanted to say it before, but she had forgotten it until she saw the little creature. Now that she saw it, she remembered it again and muttered, "Is Diandian a wolf?"
Ye Jia didn't say anything, and the few of them stayed in fear until dawn.
As the sky outside the window gradually brightened to a dazzling brightness, Ye Jiacai changed into thick clothes and cautiously opened the door. Fourth Sister Ye, carrying her child and two younger children, was about to knock on the door when she saw Ye Jiacai and let out a long sigh: "Sister, was there something crawling on the wall last night? I thought I heard someone calling out in the middle of the night, but it was too dark and I didn't dare to come out..."
As he spoke, Ye Jia told her to bring the child into the house. He went to the side of the yard, holding a knife in one hand and a stick in the other.
The courtyard wall was so high that even standing below, one couldn't see what was happening outside. Ye Jia walked around the courtyard and finally heard someone wailing softly in the southeast corner. She paused, went to the back and fetched a ladder, leaned against the wall, and took a look outside. Yu Shi had come along at some point, carefully holding the ladder from below. "Jia Niang, what's that out there?"
There was a man below, his head drooping, his features unclear. But it looked like his foot had gotten stuck in a trap, his leg caught in a snare. Now he couldn't pull it out. "Mom, did you set a snare outside too?"
"Ah?" Yu was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "We only got a few, and buried them pretty deep."
Ye Jia crouched on the wall and looked around. After making sure there was no one else around, Fourth and Fifth Sisters Ye removed the bolt from the courtyard door. They cautiously circled outside, squatting on the ground to take a closer look. The person crouching on the ground was a stranger. They had no idea where they had come from. They were dirty and thin, with a sour, foul smell. Their clothes and hair were a mess, not much different from a street beggar.
"Sister, I think he's a beggar." Ye Wumei looked at him for a long time. "Is he going to die like this?"
Ye Jia was stunned for a moment, then hurried down the ladder. He and Yu went around to the back of the yard and turned the wailing man over. His face was pale, and his lips were trembling as if he was mumbling something.
Ye Simei and Ye Wumei used all their strength to pull the man out, and found a trap stuck on his leg.
This thing was so tight that it was about to crush someone's leg bones. Although someone climbing over the wall in the middle of the night was definitely not a good person, killing him was also a bit unpleasant. Ye Jia frowned and watched for a long time. It was impossible for someone to die next to the Zhou family's courtyard: "...Do you think this person could have been taken out from the garrison?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was startled.
Yu was about to ask if they could get him inside first since he's so injured. But Ye Jia's words made her pull on the man's hand loosen. Actually, if she thought about it carefully, the courtyard they lived in was quite far from the village and a little distance from the street. If this person was from the town, it wouldn't be practical for him to stay there and come to the Zhou family. The closest thing he could do was to escape from the garrison.
"What should we do then?" Yu was still apprehensive. "Just abandon it and do nothing?"
Ye Jia pondered for a moment and said, "Mom, drag the man into the yard first. I'll go to the base."
The base was nearby, only an incense stick's length away. Yu Shi thought about it and nodded, then worked together with Ye Wumei to drag the man into the yard. Yu Shi found a rope to help him up, and Ye Jia also arrived at the gate of the base.
The sentry at the door saw Ye Jia coming again and hurriedly trotted forward.
Ye Jia told her about her family's affairs. The sentry who had originally wanted to persuade Ye Jia to come back was stunned for a moment. He quickly said seriously: "Madam, please wait here for a moment. I will go and ask and come back."
As if he was afraid that Ye Jia would be cold standing in the snow, he thought about it and led him into the camp.
Ye Jia waited for a moment, and Bazatu trotted over. Worried the sentry wouldn't explain clearly, he repeated the story. Ye Jia explained in detail, and Bazatu's face changed. "A lot of people have indeed escaped from Hongshan. The adults have been away these days, and there's a mole in the camp, so things aren't going smoothly. Don't worry, sister-in-law. I'll go with you."
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