kvmb Chapter 51 Eating in the Bandit's Den
Chapter 51 Eating in the Bandit's Den
As soon as Ye Qingchen and Gu Changfeng stepped out of the room into the spacious and bright hall, they were warmly invited to sit at the prominent main table. However, due to limited space, the main table could not actually accommodate too many people; only ten seats were set up for the most crucial members of the group. The rest of the refugees, along with their wives, children, and elderly relatives, were properly accommodated in the simple thatched huts in their homes.
Although the room was somewhat crowded and noisy, everyone's face was filled with satisfied smiles. Before long, steaming hot food was served, each bowl filled to the brim. These dishes were not exactly delicacies or rare treats, but for these people who had weathered many storms, they were quite a feast.
Ye Qingchen gazed at the food before her, her heart filled with joy. Without any hesitation, she picked up her chopsticks and began to eat heartily, savoring every bite. Watching his beloved wife so happy, Gu Changfeng's lips involuntarily curved into a smile, his eyes radiating tenderness. Meanwhile, the adorable little Yue'er excitedly looked around, her face beaming with a radiant smile as beautiful as a spring flower in full bloom, seeing so many people gathered together for a meal.
On the other side, Dong Shengniang's eyes were fixed on Ya'er, whom she hadn't seen for so long, her heart overflowing with boundless joy. For a moment, the entire room was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation, the atmosphere extremely harmonious.
However, considering that although the stronghold had not yet been besieged by government troops, they still needed to remain vigilant to prevent any unforeseen circumstances. Therefore, everyone decided to forgo drinking alcohol and instead opted for fragrant tea, raising their glasses to each other in toast, expressing their deep respect. At that moment, warmth and care flowed among them, making this otherwise ordinary meal exceptionally meaningful.
When they had almost finished eating, Ye Qingchen and Gu Changfeng looked at Xiaoyue, who was already so sleepy that her eyelids were drooping and she was yawning constantly. They couldn't help but smile at each other, and then got up together and took the little one to the guest room.
Seeing this, Ya'er had initially considered arranging separate rooms for them, since men and women should be treated differently. However, to her surprise, Ye Qingchen and Gu Changfeng insisted on living together, saying it would be more convenient to take care of Xiao Yue'er. Seeing this, Ya'er didn't say anything more and could only let them be.
Meanwhile, Han Zhi and Zhao Fei chose to stay in the guest room next to Ye Qingchen's room. Further to the side were Dong Sheng's mother's room and Dong Sheng's own room.
Ya'er didn't leave at this time, but stayed in Dong Sheng's mother's room, chatting with Dong Sheng's mother and Dong Sheng. Everyone talked and laughed, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.
Meanwhile, the leader of the village was sitting inside, his brow furrowed, carefully considering how to use the hard-won five thousand taels of silver to ensure that all the disaster victims in the village could have enough to eat and wear during this cold winter and get through this difficult time safely.
Ya'er said to Dong Shengniang, "Miss, do you know that I've been searching for you and Young Master Xi'er all these years? We've finally found you!" Dong Shengniang asked Ya'er, "Why haven't we seen the coachman?" Ya'er said, "The coachman went out these past two days. He's a skilled driver, so he's been buying grain. Grain is too expensive in Jincheng, so he went to Mocheng to buy it. It's a long journey, and to ensure his safety, all the skilled brothers from the village went with him. It's not for anything else, but so that the children can have enough to eat. The adults are fine, but the children are still growing!" She said, her face full of worry.
Dong Shengniang said with a beaming smile, "Oh dear, with Young Master Ye around, we can put our minds at ease and have no worries about these things! I believe everything he says, and so does our Xi'er. If it weren't for the fact that Young Master Ye's surname is Ye, I would almost think he was the incomparably noble Seventh Prince! Look at his bearing, tsk tsk tsk, it's truly admirable! And, this Young Master Ye is no ordinary person! You may not know, but for the past ten years, I've suffered from internal injuries, and my health hasn't improved, which has exhausted our Xi'er! To pay for my treatment and medicine, Xi'er had to copy books everywhere to earn money, even neglecting her own studies. Just when I thought I was about to collapse, someone..." One day, Young Master Ye suddenly arrived with Young Master Gu, saying they wanted to examine and cure my illness. At that time, my hair was already completely white, my skin was as dry as tree bark, and I looked old, frail, and haggard. If you saw me then, you definitely wouldn't recognize me! But unexpectedly, after Young Master Ye's examination, he determined that I only suffered internal injuries. He said that as long as these internal injuries were healed, all my problems would be solved! Sure enough, not long after, not only was my illness cured, but I also looked many years younger! Now, I feel full of vitality and hope, and I have a firm belief in continuing to live well! Because of this, Xi'er decided to take me to follow Young Master Ye.”
Upon hearing this, Ya'er nodded slightly in agreement, saying, "Yes, it seems that this Young Master Ye is indeed quite reliable." Then, she turned her gaze to Dong Nanxi and asked with a puzzled expression, "Young Master Xi'er, you should know that you were originally the incomparably noble Prince Yi's heir! Don't you feel like you're being buried by following this Young Master Ye to wander the world? After all, your status and position are what they are."
Upon hearing this, Dong Nanxi gently shook his head, a hint of helplessness and relief on his face. He slowly said, "Aunt Ya'er, you're mistaken. Actually, a long time ago, I ceased to be the heir apparent of Prince Yi. Nowadays, my father is probably surrounded by wives and concubines, having long forgotten about my mother. Perhaps he already has many children and has even appointed a new heir apparent. I've long since let go of these things and no longer wish to dwell on them. Besides, Young Master Ye saved my mother's life; without his help, she would likely have met with misfortune. Moreover, Young Master Ye was willing to take me to the capital to study, a debt of gratitude I can never repay. Therefore, I believe that by relying on my own efforts and returning home as the top scholar in the imperial examination under the name Dong Nanxi, I can at least repay my mother for her years of hard work in raising me. As for the so-called positions of heir apparent or prince, I truly don't care about them at all."