The door curtain was lifted, and a slender figure appeared at the entrance.
It was a young girl of about ten, with delicate features, fair skin, and wearing a faded, patched dress.
Ye Wan was startled but quickly composed herself.
Da Ya, standing at the door, looked at Ye Wan with a serious expression. “If you’re thinking of running, I’d advise you to give up the idea. This place is surrounded by mountains. A weak woman like you will only be walking to her death if she runs off.”
“Who said I want to run? I’m just hungry,” Ye Wan said, slumping weakly onto the edge of the kang. She had been jumping around too excitedly just now, and all she felt at this moment was a gnawing hunger.
This girl isn’t old, but she’s sharp, Ye Wan thought. She saw right through me.
“Big Sister, it’s time to eat!” San Ya’s happy voice called from outside.
Da Ya looked at Ye Wan. “I’ll go get you some food.”
“No need, I’ll come out and eat with you all.”
Ye Wan had taken the fever medicine and had also seized the opportunity to drink some spring water. Her head felt much clearer now.
She would go out to scout the situation and plan her next move.
It wasn’t completely dark in the courtyard yet.
A table and two long benches were set up at the entrance of the third earthen house.
Lin An Yuan, Er Ya, and San Ya were already seated, a bowl placed in front of each of them.
Seeing Ye Wan come out, Lin An Yuan raised an eyebrow. “That Ginger Soup really works. You can even get down and walk. It was truly worth it.”
Ye Wan didn’t say anything. Under their watchful gazes, she sat down. She looked down and saw a greenish soup in her bowl, her eyes staring blankly.
This was a meal?
Good heavens, even in the apocalypse, she hadn’t eaten this miserably.
Lin An Yuan had already picked up his bowl and finished it in one go. He then said, “Lock the doors while you’re at home. I’m going out for a bit.”
Da Ya frowned and spoke in a low voice, “Father, are you thinking of stealing a chicken from Liu Yuanwai’s house? If his servants catch you, they’ll beat you to death.”
“Pfft… Ahem, ahem, ahem.”
Ye Wan nearly choked. Seeing the gazes around her turn her way, she quickly lowered her head, picked up her bowl, and took a sip. A bitter taste filled her mouth.
A man who looked like that was involved in petty theft?!
Lin An Yuan’s face darkened. “What nonsense are you spouting? I’m going to hunt a wild chicken to help your mother recuperate. Once she’s better, she can nurse San Ya. The doctor said San Ya has never been breastfed and was malnourished in the womb, which is why she gets sick so easily.”
Beside them, Er Ya pouted, her upturned eyes glaring at Ye Wan. “At best, that makes her a wet nurse. And a wet nurse is still a servant.”
Ye Wan was speechless.
Wet nurse your head.
Lin An Yuan instructed the three girls to keep a close watch on Ye Wan, then took a straw hat from the wall and went out.
Ye Wan watched his back disappear, and an idea sparked in her mind. The man wouldn’t be here tonight; it was the perfect opportunity for her to leave.
After eating, she used the excuse of feeling dizzy and went back to the room to lie down.
At one point, San Ya ran in but was led away by a scolding Er Ya.
Ye Wan lay with her head covered for a while. After eating the wild vegetable paste, her stomach was still growling with hunger.
After what she estimated to be two or three hours, hearing no more movement outside, Ye Wan slipped into her space in a flash.
The moment she entered, her mouth fell open in astonishment. The small sapling she had planted earlier had, in such a short time, already grown into a tree over a meter tall and had even blossomed.
“It’s actually a pear tree! Grow faster, hurry up and bear fruit, I’m starving to death.”
A single bowl of wild vegetable paste was useless. Ye Wan was so hungry she drank more spring water and watered the pear tree while she was at it.
The moment she finished speaking, in the blink of an eye, pears formed on the tree and ripened rapidly.
Ye Wan blinked, on the verge of tears. “Heavens, are you toying with me!”
If her space had been this incredible during the apocalypse, she would have been a national treasure! With countless ability users protecting her, how could she have died?
She reached out, plucked a pear, and took a bite. It was soft and sweet, its juices flowing freely. It was so delicious it made her squint her eyes in pleasure.
“Bang, bang, bang!”
“Who are you?!”
Just as she had eaten and drunk her fill, there was a loud knocking on the door, followed by Da Ya’s voice.
Outside the door, Granny Qian and Ye Yaozu were covered in dirt. It had taken them a great deal of effort to find the place.
Granny Qian squeezed out a smile. “This is Lin An Yuan’s home, right? The person he bought today is my daughter. I’m not selling her anymore. I’ll return the silver to you, but I’m taking my daughter back.”
“Well, now! She’s already been sold, so she’s a servant of our family. Why the change of heart?” Er Ya came out, yawning, her tone sharp and acidic.
Granny Qian had prepared her speech on the way. She feigned wiping her eyes. “I was muddle-headed at the time. She’s my own flesh and blood, after all. I can’t bear to part with her. I’ll return the silver, and I’m taking my daughter back, along with the indenture contract.”
Fifty taels! No matter what, they had to send the girl to Zhang Fuhu’s house!
Da Ya frowned, her face stern. “My father is already resting. If there’s anything, wait until he wakes up tomorrow to discuss it.”
“What? They’re already sleeping together?!”
Granny Qian was about to die of anger when she heard that.
If this wretched girl’s body was defiled, would Zhang Fuhu still pay fifty taels?
“You little girl are quite the liar. Lin An Yuan isn’t home, is he?” Ye Yaozu’s eyes darted around, and with a lecherous look, he started to enter the courtyard.
To think this Lin An Yuan was raising three money-losing wenches. They were quite good-looking, too. He probably planned to raise them and sell them for money.
Da Ya’s expression turned cold. “I said, my father is already asleep. If you wake him, you should know he has a bad temper.”
Ye Yaozu wasn’t a fool. If the man were home, he would have come out long ago. He shoved Da Ya aside and barged in.
“Get out of my house! With your shifty eyes, it’s clear you’re no good. You think you can just say a few words and take someone away? My father spent one tael of silver…”
Er Ya grabbed the firewood knife from behind the door and blocked Ye Yaozu’s path, cursing at him.
Afraid that Lin An Yuan would return and retaliate, Granny Qian grabbed her son who was trying to force his way in. “Forget it. I’ll grit my teeth and take a loss. I’ll give you one and a half taels, and I’ll take her with me. I’m definitely not selling her anymore.”
Er Ya’s eyes lit up at her words.
She quickly whispered, “Big Sister, half a tael of silver is enough for our whole family to eat meat.”
Earning an extra half tael just like that! What a deal!
When Ye Yaozu thought of the fifty taels, he no longer cared about the extra half tael. He yelled towards the room, “Ye Wan, you little slut, get your ass out here for your… Ah!”
Before he could finish, he let out a miserable scream.
A clod of dirt had landed precisely on his mouth.
“It’s the middle of the night. What’s all this dog barking about!”
Ye Wan came out of the room, patting the dirt from her hands and giving herself a thumbs-up for her aim.
“You little slut, you’re rebelling, aren’t you! Daring to hit your younger brother! Forget it, I won’t stoop to your level. I’m taking you to Zhang Fuhu’s house to eat fine food and drink spiced wine. If you stay in this poor house, you’ll starve to death!”
Granny Qian was furious, but she endured it for the sake of the fifty taels and immediately moved to grab Ye Wan.
If she weren’t afraid of marring her face, she would have beaten this little slut.
Da Ya spoke up, “No! She belongs to my father now. You can’t take her away!”
San Ya ran out of the room barefoot and stood in front of Ye Yaozu. “You can’t take my mother away! This is my mother!”
Granny Qian shoved San Ya. “You wretched girl, get out of the way! It’s only right and proper that I take my own daughter away!”
“You old hag! So you didn’t really care about your daughter after all. You were just planning to sell her again. I’ve never seen such a heartless mother. Ptooey! Get out of my house right now!”
Er Ya also gave Granny Qian a shove, cursing at her.
Ye Wan looked at the three little girls standing protectively in front of her, somewhat surprised.
Just then, a vicious glint flashed in Ye Yaozu’s eyes, and he suddenly kicked out at San Ya, who was closest to him.
“San Ya!”