"I, Ye Shenyan, have been an official for many years, always upholding the principles of integrity and honesty. Although I've been unfortunate in my encounters and exiled here, I won't complain. But if I can't even protect my family by now, I don't deserve to be the head of the family. So it's better for us to stay out of each other's way. Otherwise, I won't keep giving in!"
These impassioned words made the brother and sister's blood boil. Ye Shenyan tapped his walking stick on the ground, making a clattering sound, which caught everyone's attention. Some people even quietly applauded and whispered.
"I've heard of Grand Tutor Ye. He's a just and upright man. It's a pity that such a gem has been exiled here! He must have encountered something to be so angry."
"Although I don't know what crime he committed, I believe in Grand Tutor Ye's character after getting along with him."
"Look at the Wei family. They're also exiles, but they live no worse than in the capital. From what Grand Tutor Ye said, God knows what dirty deeds they've been doing behind their backs!"
People around whispered, but even though their voices were low, every word reached the ears of the people involved.
Wei Louming's face turned pale and then red. Wei Shishi suddenly emerged from somewhere and pointed at the onlookers, scolding loudly.
"What do you think you are? Who gave you the guts to judge the Wei family?"
"Why are you so agitated? Did we hit a nerve?"
Ye Zhinan looked at him contemptuously.
"Don't talk nonsense. Your whole family came to our house with weapons to make trouble. We haven't even said anything yet."
"You can't say anything, can you? Because you're in the wrong, right, Uncle Wei!"
Hearing this, Wei Louming's face became even uglier. It was inconvenient for him to drop his hypocritical mask, so he had to let Wei Shishi play the villain, but Wei Shishi was useless.
"Brother Ye, I don't know what trouble your family has encountered. If you need my help, I'll spare no effort."
"Then I hope Brother Wei will remember your words and spare no effort when the time comes!"
After saying that, Ye Shenyan flicked his sleeves and left.
Ye Zhinan bowed slightly and said politely, "Then we'll thank Uncle Wei in advance for sparing no effort for our Ye family when the time comes."
Without saying a word, Ye Yingfeng tapped his walking stick on the ground, making the Wei family tremble.
After speaking their minds and venting their anger, Ye Shenyan had clearly drawn a line with the Wei family. From then on, they would stay out of each other's way. If the Wei family crossed the line, they would pay the price.
Ye Zhinan felt much better. Finally, her father had avenged the family, but from then on, the Ye family's situation would be more dangerous. The Wei family would do whatever they wanted even more brazenly.
"Don't say a word when we get home."
As soon as Ye Shenyan reached the door, he stared seriously at his son and daughter.
"Don't worry, Father!"
The brother and sister promised in unison.
Behind the window, Han Xiangmei quietly lay back down. A look of worry flashed across her eyes, followed by a gentle expression.
After taking the medicine, Han Xiangmei gradually recovered. Her face regained its color, and her appetite improved.
To let her mother rest more, Ye Zhinan got up early to prepare breakfast for the whole family.
There was millet porridge, date buns, fresh boiled eggs, and some pickled wild vegetables. If there weren't a shortage of ducks recently, she might have prepared some salted duck eggs.
Supported by Ye Yingfeng, Han Xiangmei walked out. Her eyes widened when she saw the breakfast on the table.
"Did you make all this?"
Although Ye Zhinan had been helping before, this was the first time she had cooked alone.
Pride was hard to hide in Ye Zhinan's eyes, but she still acted modestly, with a hint of self - satisfaction.
"I just made them casually. They're all simple dishes. I wanted to prepare some duck eggs, but there aren't enough ducks."
Ye Shenyan sat down silently and nodded as if in approval.
It was not easy to get her father's approval. He was known for his strictness and rarely praised others, but he never hesitated to praise his daughter.
The whole family happily finished all the food on the table. In particular, Han Xiangmei drank two bowls of porridge in one go. She wanted to have more, but Ye Zhinan stopped her.
"You need to take it slowly. Your body has just recovered. You can't eat too much, or your stomach won't be able to handle it."
Han Xiangmei's lips twitched.
"I'm already better!"
"You need to take the medicine for one more day to completely get rid of the toxins in your body."
Ye Zhinan assumed the posture of a doctor and didn't give in at all. She stuffed the pills into Han Xiangmei's hand and then handed her a glass of freshly filtered and boiled water, watching her take the medicine.
"Once you're better, we'll have rabbit heads?"
Everyone's eyes widened, and they all looked at her eagerly.
"Rabbit heads? Where did you get the rabbits?"
Ye Yingfeng's eyes suddenly lit up, and he asked impatiently.
Ye Zhinan had already cleaned the wild rabbits in the morning and stored them in the cellar.
With her big, watery almond eyes, she looked in the direction of the cellar and silently told them about her trip to the mountain.
After hearing this, Ye Shenyan frowned tightly, and his voice was tense. "Don't act on your own in the future!"
Seeing that her father wasn't really blaming her, she playfully wrapped her arm around his and rested her head on his shoulder, nodding and promising with a playful smile.
"I'll never do it again. But I had a good harvest. I also caught a few wild ducks, which can make up for our losses."
"There are wild ducks on the mountain?"
Ye Yingfeng was greatly surprised. He had been in the mine for so long and never noticed any wild ducks.
"Once they lay eggs, we can have salted duck eggs."
Ye Zhinan was planning for future delicious food. Han Xiangmei couldn't help but swallow her saliva, and she quickly stopped her from painting more beautiful pictures.
"Stop talking. We can't eat them now!"
Ye Zhinan thought her mother was cute and funny when she acted coquettishly.
Getting back to business, she suddenly looked serious. "Let's dig a well!"
Ye Shenyan and Ye Yingfeng were greatly surprised again.
"Why do you suddenly want to dig a well? And is there groundwater here?"
Ye Yingfeng asked.
Ye Zhinan took out a piece of paper confidently. When she unfolded it, it was a water conservancy project map.
She pointed at the map and said, "Here and here. I've detected that there's water here. It's easier to dig a well here. It will take five days at most. If it goes fast..."
She looked at Ye Yingfeng, and a strange light flashed in her eyes.
"Take it slow. Your brother is not young anymore!"
Ye Yingfeng quickly waved his hand.
Digging a well was okay, but he didn't want to die young.
"Then five days. But when you said you're not young anymore, are you hinting to Mom and Dad that you should get married?"
Ye Zhinan squinted her eyes, and a smile curved her lips.
Ye Yingfeng blushed and stammered, "Three days will do."
"Okay. Then I'll trouble you, brother."
She patted Ye Yingfeng on the shoulder and said earnestly, "I'm doing this for the health of the whole family. With our own well, the water will be safer to drink, and we won't have to go through the trouble of filtering it."
Ye Shenyan nodded in agreement.
Ye Yingfeng had no choice but to shrug and agree.
Although he had agreed to do the work, it didn't mean he would do it alone.