“Mm.”She knew there was no point in explaining it to him.
She was no longer the original Mu Mianmian.
“I’ll clean your wounds first.”
The woman’s voice was soft and gentle, yet her movements were unexpectedly calm and efficient—nothing like a delicate, pampered young lady.
Ye Si Ming couldn’t move at all and could only let her work on him.
As she tended to him, his thoughts drifted back.
When she had first entered the Ye household and seen him crippled, she had been so frightened that she knelt down and kowtowed to him, banging her head without fear of injury, crying that she had been forced into the marriage and begging him to spare her.
But now…
Ye Si Ming truly couldn’t understand it.
How had she changed so suddenly?
Was her acting simply that good?
Had she been putting on a show back at the manor for everyone else?
While he was still thinking, Mu Mianmian had already finished treating his wounds.
“I’m going to cook.”
Her face was expressionless, her actions methodical and composed.
Ye Si Ming suddenly didn’t know how to interact with her anymore.
She went to deal with the rabbit and then borrowed a pot from the soldiers.
They had no pots, bowls, or utensils at all. Firewood, rice, oil, salt, even water—none of it was available.
They either had to borrow or buy it.
Borrowing was unrealistic. Buying was the only option.
With no money, Mu Mianmian traded fruit instead.
At first, they didn’t want to agree, but Commander Liu had just eaten some of the rabbit meat and found it quite tasty, so he reluctantly lent her the items. Pots and bowls weren’t worth much anyway.
The fruit Mu Mianmian offered, however, was especially juicy and fragrant—very much worth the trade.
The soldiers grew curious.“Where did you catch the rabbit and pick the wild fruit?”
“In the woods,” Mu Mianmian replied casually. “I guess I got lucky and ran into two rabbits as soon as I went in.”
She took the pot back and started a fire to stew the rabbit meat.
Secretly, she took seasonings out of her storage space.
The braised meat soon released a rich aroma that made everyone’s mouths water.
“Smells amazing! So fragrant!”
“Big Brother! Mommy! Sister! Sister-in-law’s meat smells so good! We get to eat meat! I’m so happy!”
The three-year-old little brother sat nearby, staring unblinkingly at the pot of rabbit meat, wiping drool from his mouth as he watched.
Meiniang was just as childlike.
The two of them sat side by side, staring at the pot—having food alone made them happy.
Using some leftover water from cooking, Ye Si Yun wiped her father’s body.“Big Brother, should I wipe you down too?”
“No.”Ye Si Ming shook his head. Given his condition, it wasn’t appropriate.
His sister was still an unmarried young girl.
Ye Si Yun smiled. “Then I’ll ask Sister-in-law to help you later.”
Ye Si Ming glanced at the busy figure not far away, his expression turning slightly strange.
“Brother, you should treat Sister-in-law better,” Ye Si Yun said softly.“We’ve made it this far thanks to her. I don’t even know what I would’ve done without her.”
“She’s a hundred times better than Mu Jiaojiao. Don’t keep thinking about such a selfish, heartless woman.”
Ye Si Ming: “……”
What a naïve little sister. Mu Jiaojiao wasn’t a good person, but Mu Mianmian was also from the Mu family—her behavior was even more suspicious, wasn’t it? None of them were good people.
Still, right now, they truly had no choice but to rely on Mu Mianmian.
“Mm. I understand.”For now, he would observe quietly.
“Ah Ye! The braised rabbit meat is ready! It smells so good—Mianmian said you should eat first!”
Meiniang happily carried a bowl of meat over. But before she could take two steps, her foot slipped. The bowl flew into the air, and the meat scattered everywhere.
“Mother!”
Little Ah Jin hurried over on his short legs to help her up.
“Waaah… I’m so stupid. The meat got dirty…”Meiniang quickly climbed up on her own, picking up the meat as she cried.“Sniff… there’s so much sand! Ah Ye will end up eating sand!”
“Hahaha! A fool is a fool—useless trash!”
“Who said you get to eat meat? You’re not eating!”
A child around ten years old ran over and stomped all over the meat on the ground.
“If this young master doesn’t get meat, none of you are allowed to eat!”
It was Ye Si Chen, the fifth young master of the Ye family from the third branch—a little tyrant.
“Stop it! Don’t step on my meat!”
Seeing the ruined meat, little Ah Jin’s eyes turned red with rage. He rushed over and slammed hard into Ye Si Chen.
“Ah! You little bastard, you dare hit me? I’ll beat you to death!”
Ye Si Chen viciously kicked him.
Ah Jin was too small and weak. He was knocked down and landed hard on his bottom, bursting into loud sobs.
“Ah Jin!”
Seeing her son beaten, Meiniang immediately rushed over and pushed Ye Si Chen away.
“So you dare hit my son? I won’t let this go!”
Third Madam Zhou rushed over at once and grabbed Meiniang by the hair.
“Hand over the meat right now, or I’ll beat you to death!”
Hearing the commotion, Mu Mianmian rushed over.
“Stop!”
She grabbed Madam Zhou’s wrist and twisted hard, freeing her mother-in-law. Madam Zhou screamed in pain.
Other members of the Ye family ran over immediately.
“Mu Mianmian, what are you doing?!”
“Waaah—Grandmother, this fool hit me!”Ye Si Chen cried loudly.
Ye Third flew into a rage.“You dared hit my son? I’ll make you pay!”
“Oh my precious grandson!”The old matriarch hugged Ye Si Chen tightly and immediately cursed,“You stupid woman! You hurt Ah Chen—you must compensate him!”
“Quickly hand over your meat to nourish my grandson!”