On her way home from work, Han Xiangmei ran into Sister Zhang. Sister Zhang's family was entertaining the neighbors because they had just dug a well. Naturally, she didn't give Han Xiangmei a good look.
"The Wei family is kind. They know how to show concern for us poor people. They've not only contributed money but also put in effort. Unlike some people who act all high - and - mighty but don't care about our lives when it matters."
"Sister Zhang, could you please make it clear? Who are these so - called'some people'?"
Han Xiangmei couldn't stand any slander against the Ye family. She had a clear conscience.
Sister Zhang naturally wasn't going to back down. She put her hands on her hips and stepped forward, shouting loudly, "Your family secretly dug a well. This village belongs to everyone, and the groundwater is for everyone, too. Why is it okay for your family but not for others? When I went to plead with you, I had to bear the cold looks from Miss Ye. Remember when you first came here, how I helped your family. But when I needed your help, you started to act all superior!"
"My daughter never gave you a cold look! Don't make unfounded accusations!"
Han Xiangmei was so angry that her face turned red. As a well - bred young lady, she had read poems and books on female virtues. After getting married, she had been cherished by Ye Shenyan. Even during their exile, following the principle of being cautious, she had never had disputes with the neighbors. So, facing this tough - talking village woman, she was completely flustered.
Suddenly, someone in the crowd of onlookers shouted, "I've heard that Grand Tutor Ye has always been just, honest, and dedicated to the people. How could he do such a thing?"
This person seemed to be standing up for justice, but in fact, he was just stirring up trouble.
Hearing this, someone immediately responded.
"That's just what you've heard. You can know a person's face but not their heart. Look at them. They're just exiled criminals, yet they live better than us."
"You don't understand. They have powerful backers. A lean camel is still bigger than a horse."
Everyone was talking at once. Han Xiangmei was so anxious that she couldn't get a word in. Suddenly, someone whispered in her ear, "Go home quickly. Staying here will only make you the target of everyone's criticism."
When she turned around to find the person, there was no sign of them. So she immediately went home.
After Ye Zhinan heard the story, her brows knitted tightly.
Han Xiangmei's hasty return home like a beaten dog was tantamount to admitting their family's so - called misdeeds. The person behind this was really cunning.
Seeing everyone looking gloomy and Lu Yanlai even itching to go out and defend them, Ye Zhinan quickly grabbed her.
"Everyone must be hungry. Let me show my cooking skills today!"
"Oops, I was so busy talking that I forgot. I'll go cook!"
Han Xiangmei said with an embarrassed smile and headed towards the kitchen. But Ye Zhinan insisted and stopped the two of them outside the kitchen.
"You take care of my mother. Today, I'll let you taste something new."
There was no such thing as something new. Ye Zhinan just wanted to cheer them up.
As soon as she closed the kitchen door, she slipped into the space.
The space was like a paradise with beautiful scenery and everything one could ask for. Every time she entered, she felt refreshed.
"What should I cook today?"
As Ye Zhinan was thinking, she accidentally kicked something. Looking down, she saw a pile of eggplants.
Garlic - flavored eggplant puree would be great!
Thinking so, she carried a bunch of eggplants out of the space. Soon, wisps of smoke rose from the chimney of the kitchen.
Ye Yingfeng and Ye Shenyan came home from work. As soon as they entered the house, they smelled the delicious aroma of the food.
"Mother, what are we having today? It smells so good!"
After Ye Yingfeng said this, he saw Han Xiangmei sitting on the stone bench in the yard. He then looked at Lu Yanlai beside her and the smoke rising from the kitchen.
"Could it be that the kitchen is on fire?"
With that, he picked up a bucket and ran towards the well.
"You're already an adult. Why are you still so impatient?"
Ye Shenyan squinted his eyes, his voice slightly angry. But his next words almost made the two ladies fall off the stone bench: "The bucket is too small. It won't be enough!"
"Stop it, you two. It's not the first time our daughter has cooked."
Han Xiangmei wiped the corner of her eyes when they weren't looking. After making sure there were no more tears, she walked towards them. But no matter how hard she tried to hide it, she couldn't escape Ye Shenyan's eyes.
"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"
"It's nothing. Don't worry too much."
Seeing this, Lu Yanlai immediately came over with a big smile, "It's just that I'm a glutton. I heard there's a new dish, so I couldn't wait to have a taste."
"New dish? What is it?"
Ye Yingfeng put down the bucket, eager to know.
Although his sister's cooking was sometimes risky, the final products were usually quite good. So this time, he was full of expectations.
Ye Zhinan was concentrating hard inside the kitchen. After a long time, the food was finally ready.
There was a plate of cold - dressed eggplant puree, a plate of stir - fried chives with eggs, a plate of stir - fried spinach with eggs, a plate of stir - fried mustard greens with eggs, and a big bowl of soy milk.
Everyone was stunned when they saw the food.
"Sister, do you love eggs so much?"
Ye Yingfeng was immediately dissatisfied. Was this "egg collection" all he got after all his high expectations?
"Don't underestimate eggs. They're very nutritious. The nutritional value of two eggs is equivalent to that of three taels of fish or lean meat. And the egg yolk is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, which are very easy for the human body to absorb. It also contains trace elements such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, and phosphorus. If I had a cow and some milk to supplement calcium, it would be even more perfect."
Ye Zhinan rambled on for a long time, and everyone listened with their mouths agape.
"Are you okay?"
There was a look of surprise and more worry in Lu Yanlai's eyes.
Han Xiangmei thought: I shouldn't have told them about Sister Zhang.
Ye Yingfeng thought: I shouldn't have complained.
Ye Shenyan thought: My daughter is too tired.
Although no one said a word, they all had the same thought in their hearts: She just cooked a meal. What's wrong with her?
Ye Zhinan suddenly woke up. How could she get carried away with medical and health - preserving knowledge again? Seeing everyone's worried expressions, she quickly picked up a mouthful of eggplant puree and said, "In spring, health - preserving focuses on nourishing the liver and strengthening the spleen. These dishes are all suitable."
With that, she buried her head in her meal and said no more.
After the meal, Ye Zhinan was really exhausted. She had wanted to cheer everyone up, but instead, everyone had been worried about her mental state.
The night was deep, and a gentle breeze blew. She felt as if her whole body was falling apart, but she just couldn't fall asleep in bed.
Suddenly, she remembered the things brought back from the Yan family. She immediately slipped into the space to test for poison.
Huh, it was actually this!
She tested it several times, and the results were the same.
It seemed she had guessed wrong.
She returned to bed, and scenes from her memory flashed through her mind: the old woman who didn't finish her story; the person who whispered in her mother's ear; and the female corpse from the Yan family.
Just then, there were three soft knocks on the window.
"I've been waiting for you."
Hearing her impatient voice, Qin Yihuai's eyes flashed. But her next words made him hide the expectation in his eyes.
"I've found out about that poison. It's not what we thought, or rather, not what I thought."
"Shh!"
Suddenly, Qin Yihuai covered Ye Zhinan's mouth with his hand and dragged her into the darkness.
Ye Zhinan was just about to resist when she saw a dark figure jump over the wall of their house.