Old Madam Ye held Ye Anran in her arms, calling her “good girl” again and again.
One moment she was stroking her head, the next rubbing her little hands, her face filled with heartache.
Ye Anran, however, was completely bewildered. In Xiao Ya’s memories, she had never even met this old lady before—so why was she acting as though she had just found her most precious treasure?
Looking at Ye Anran’s dazed expression, Old Madam Ye patted her head. “You’re awake, my precious? From now on, I’m your grandmother. Remember that, alright?
As long as I have a mouthful of food to eat, there will always be a share for you.”
She held Ye Anran tightly in her arms, gently patting her back with tender care.
Wang Xiang’er reminded her softly, “Mother, the child is covered in injuries. She just woke up with great difficulty. We were wondering if the family could spare a bit more silver to take her to see a doctor. Would that be alright?”
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Ye quickly and carefully placed Ye Anran back into Wang Xiang’er’s arms. “Of course it’s alright! Oh dear, look at me—so clumsy. I hope I didn’t hurt the child.”
Then she looked at Ye Anran. “Child, where does it hurt?”
Overwhelmed by the sudden affection, Ye Anran wondered why this grandmother cherished her so much.
She pointed at her wrist, then at her stomach.
Old Madam Ye immediately rushed back into her room and dragged out a ceramic jar hidden beneath the bed.
She also took out the money she had concealed inside the wall—even a single copper coin hidden in a mouse hole wasn’t spared.
Gathering up all the copper coins, she placed them in a heap on the table.
“Xiang’er, since your household has decided to raise this child, you must treat her like your own daughter.
If she’s your third branch’s daughter, then she’s my granddaughter too!
Don’t be stingy. Hurry and take the child to see the doctor. I suspect she may have internal injuries.”
Wang Xiang’er and Ye Sanlang quickly took Ye Anran to see the doctor.
Earlier, while being carried by Wang Xiang’er, Ye Anran had appeared to be asleep, but in reality she had secretly taken a couple of sips of spiritual spring water from her space.
Even so, she continued to pretend to be weak—suddenly becoming lively and energetic would be far too suspicious.
Ye Sanlang tucked the money into his clothes and left with Wang Xiang’er and Ye Anran.
But Second Sister-in-law, Liu Xiuxiu, was displeased. She grabbed Old Madam Ye’s sleeve.
“Mother, have you truly gone senile?
Third Brother’s family brought back some freeloading little girl from outside. How can you take out all the money to treat a worthless girl?
Mother, you’re really confused!”
Liu Xiuxiu had always thought her mother-in-law the shrewdest person in the household. Even someone as fierce as herself had to obey her.
But today, it was as if her mother-in-law had been possessed.
She had been indifferent at first, but after seeing the little girl’s face, her eyes had lit up strangely.
Old Madam Ye glared fiercely at Liu Xiuxiu. “Stop jumping around like that.
Your family has two children. Third Brother’s family now also has two.
I’m not favoring anyone. And you heard what Third Brother said just now.
If not for this little girl, my precious grandson might not even be alive today.
Since Third Brother’s family has decided to raise her as their own daughter, then she is my granddaughter.
If you keep stirring up trouble, don’t blame this old woman for being rude!”
After saying that, Old Madam Ye turned and went back to her room.
Old Master Ye followed her inside. After so many years of marriage, how could he not understand his wife?
She might generously agree to let the third branch raise a daughter, but she would never be so generous as to hand over all her hidden copper coins for medical treatment without reason.
There had to be something strange about this.
He followed her in, leaving Liu Xiuxiu outside, fuming and stomping her feet.
She kicked the pebbles at her feet far away. “Hmph! That old woman must have been kicked in the head by a donkey. What’s the use of keeping a money-losing burden? Hmph!”
Muttering curses under her breath, Liu Xiuxiu returned to her room. She only dared to say such things behind her mother-in-law’s back—she wouldn’t dare say them to her face, or the old woman would truly beat her.
After returning to her room, she grabbed Ye Second Brother and began crying.
“Second Brother, look at this family—none of them have any brains! We’re practically starving to death.
Our children are yellow and emaciated from hunger, and yet your third brother somehow decided, together with his wife, to pick up some unwanted girl from outside.
And your mother didn’t hesitate—she took all the family’s money to treat that worthless girl.
Tell me, how are we supposed to live like this?”
The more Liu Xiuxiu spoke, the more aggrieved she felt. Tears streamed down her face.
Ye Second Brother frowned as he listened. He knew his mother’s temperament well—she would never disregard her other grandchildren’s survival to rescue an unrelated child.
He comforted Liu Xiuxiu for a while. “Alright, alright. I know Mother better than anyone. She must have her reasons for doing this. I’ll go ask her what’s going on.”
Hearing this, Liu Xiuxiu cried even harder. Not a single person in this family had a normal brain.
Meanwhile, Old Madam Ye sat on the bed in her room, grinning uncontrollably.
Old Master Ye patted her. “Tell me what’s going on. You’ve always been the stingiest one. You never even let me handle a single copper coin all these years.
Why are you suddenly so generous, taking everything out to treat a little girl?”
Old Madam Ye slapped her thigh and burst into laughter. “Ha! I told you my granddaughter would soon come to our home. Didn’t I say so?
That old immortal gave clear instructions—so long as I treat this lucky child well, our family will enjoy endless prosperity and wealth!”
She had always been somewhat superstitious. Coupled with the recurring dreams, she had felt all along that her little granddaughter would soon arrive.
And the little girl brought back by the third branch looked exactly like the child in her dreams—her facial features as though carved from the same mold.
The only difference was that the child was far too thin and frail.
But after being nourished for a while, she believed the girl would surely become fair and plump again.
The more she thought about it, the happier she became.
Old Master Ye placed his hand on her forehead. “You’re not even feverish. What are you grinning foolishly about? Could it be your head really has…”
He stopped mid-sentence as Old Madam Ye shot him a glare.
“Go, go. You wouldn’t understand even if I explained.
My precious darling is fated with me. Otherwise, why would the immortal appear in my dreams and not someone else’s?
Haha! Alright, hurry and see what food we have. Make something for my precious darling.
When she comes back, she’ll probably be hungry.”
After saying that, she noticed Old Master Ye still standing there dumbfounded.
She got up from the bed and headed toward the kitchen herself.