C23

Time slowly passed. The sun was getting hotter and hotter. It was almost noon. Qimu was lying on her bed. Ever since Yang Lili had left, she had been feeling increasingly uneasy. She had a feeling that something was about to happen.

Her hunch had always been accurate.

Usually, at this time of day, Ye Dazhuang and Yang Lili, who had gone to the fields in the morning, would return home. This was because the noon sun was the most scorching poison.

No matter how hardworking the peasants were, they would not be able to land in the afternoon.

But at this time, Ye Dazhuang and Yangyang didn't come back, and Yang Lili, who went to the main room to do some work, also didn't come back.

Yang Lili, logically speaking, should have returned earlier than Ye Dazhuang. Firstly, she was close, and secondly, the main house also needed food. Yang Lili couldn't be allowed to eat. Thirdly, with her cheap mother's personality, how could she be left alone for lunch?

The emptiness in the house was shocking. Qimu thought over and over again before finally getting up from the bed, worrying about Yang Lili and unable to wait any longer. She couldn't care less about the big and small, deep and shallow wounds on her body.

"Ah …"

As soon as her feet touched the ground, Qimu let out a painful cry.

His legs and feet were soft and painful everywhere, and the aftereffects from his climb up the mountain were menacing.

Qimu bit her lips as she forced herself to put on her shoes. Her usual simple action still took a while, and her forehead was dripping with sweat.

Along the way, Qimu walked and stopped. Her steps were messy, and the incredibly hot sunlight made her feel dizzy and uncomfortable.

Outside the main house.

Qimu leaned against the door and stood outside. She felt as if she had entered another world, a world that was very lively, very warm, and very ironic.

All three generations of people sat around a table, eating and drinking, chatting and laughing merrily.

Mrs. Lee and her grandfather, Ye Guangzong, sat in the main seat, with Lee Zhiqing and Lee Zhiqing next to Mrs. Lee and Zhang Chuncao next to Ye Guangzong. Mrs. Lee and her grandfather, Ye Guangzong, sat in the main seat, with Lee Zhiqing and Lee Zhiqing next to Mrs. Lee and Ye Guangzong.

Looking at the dishes on the table, a large plate of fried tofu, a large plate of stir-fried cabbage, a plate of farm stewed fish, an egg-flower soup, and even a plate of greasy red-braised pork, two bowls for one person, a bowl of dried rice, and a hot soup, they were all extremely tasty.

"Father, mother, eat more meat." Father, mother, eat more meat.

Lee Zhiqing was kind and kind. She picked up the biggest two pieces of Red Braised Meat and gave them to Mrs. Lee and Ye Guangzong.

"Sigh, I didn't love this wife for nothing. This third wife is sensible and has rules. She knows how to love others."

Mrs. Lee didn't eat the meat in the bowl. Instead, she turned around and smiled at Ye Guangzong. She was very satisfied with Lee Zhiqing's filial piety.

"Mn, our old Ye Family is blessed."

He had thought about this meat for a long time. Normally, even if he had some spare money, he would rarely buy it twice a year. Today, Old Third went to the town and bought some meat.

Ye Guangzong glanced at his third son in satisfaction. Ye Yiming could feel the gaze from his father. Smiling faintly, his clean, pretty face was filled with pride.

Lee Zhiqing's hand trembled slightly as she spilled the soup from her mouth. Then, as if nothing had happened, she drank the remaining soup from her spoon and wiped the table with a cloth. Her actions were quick and natural.

Qimu remained calm and collected as she took in the scene before her. She suppressed the emotions on her face and slowly stepped into the hall.

Zhang Chuncao, who had been eating quietly with her head down, was the first one to notice her.

"Oh, which gust of wind brought Mu from the second floor over?"

She emphasized the two words "second room". Which person in this village didn't know about Ye Family, and thus didn't come to the main house to eat?

Just like her parents, she would come wailing like ghosts and howling like wolves when it got dark. She had given them all the food she could get this month, so who was she trying to cheat this time?

It was only then that the others noticed Qimu's small body. She was almost ten years old, and her growth was no different than that of a seven or eight year old child from a village.

"Mu, you're here. What's the matter?"

Lee Zhiqing said politely with a smile.

Mrs. Lee looked at her granddaughter, a little girl, impatiently. She had so much to say, just like her mother. Thinking about the money she had taken out to hire a doctor for Qimu, Mrs. Lee's heart ached.

It wasn't like she was seriously ill. What kind of doctor was she to ask for? That Yang Lili caused such a ruckus, and people who didn't know it would think that she was a strict grandmother.

"Greetings grandma, grandpa, uncle, aunt, third uncle, third aunt, and sister Qiao, sister Li, and brother Zong."

Sister Qiao was the eldest daughter of the eldest daughter, while Sister Li was the third daughter. The eldest son of the eldest son, Ye Yaozu, was sent to the small academy in the town to study because he was the only son of the main Ye Family.

On the other hand, Zong Ge'er was the son of the Third Branch, who was carried in Mrs. Lee's arms the other day.

Qimu seemed to be well-behaved as she greeted everyone in the room before continuing:

"My mother still hasn't returned yet, so I came over to find out from my grandma. I thought maybe she left me with a mother."

"What? She hasn't gone back yet?"

Mrs. Lee said unhappily. This was what she disliked the most about her daughter-in-law. She never did proper business properly, and always wanted to stir up trouble at home.

"Yes, father and brother haven't come back yet."

Qimu added faintly, "You guys are already enjoying yourselves here, but her parents and brother aren't back yet, and no one wants to ask about it." She was slightly annoyed in her heart.

"Where did number two go? Didn't you guys come back?"

Mrs. Lee asked, staring at her boss, her tone was still not good, but it carried some obvious concern. After all, the one Qimu mentioned this time was not her naughty daughter-in-law, but her son.

"Mom, when dad, wife, and I left, Dazhuang said that Second Sister-in-law didn't go to the fields this time, so he stayed for a while longer to plant the seedlings."

Seeing that Mrs. Lee was looking at him, Ye Dateng explained in a straightforward manner.

Qimu had a good impression of her uncle. He was a straightforward and upright person, and the key was that his words were indeed like those of her cheap father. It was unknown whether Zhang Chuncao was lucky enough to get married to a good man.

"Right."

Ye Guangzong also nodded in agreement. He also heard that his second son was a very good person and was honest.

When Mrs. Lee saw this, her expression eased up. Her son only came back a little later, it was good that he came back fine. As long as the other things didn't bother her, her days would be better.

Seeing that Mrs. Lee didn't have anything else to say, Qimu's heart turned cold. If this person who hadn't returned was Mrs. Lee's precious son, Ye Yiming, would Mrs. Lee still be able to sit and eat properly? If he didn't go to the door to look around, that would be wrong …

Ye Yiming and his wife had never been to the fields before, but their lives were always balanced. Some people's comfort must have been earned by someone else's early rising in the morning. Qimu slowly clenched her fists as a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Eldest Aunt, you usually take care of the chores. Do you know where my mother is?"

Where was Yang Lili now? This was the most important matter for her to come to the Ye Family Main House.

"Second Sister-in-law, this morning was just to cut the grass, feed the pigs, clean the yard, and do some light work. Where else can I let her go?"

Zhang Chuncao saw Qimu staring at her and asked. Thinking about what happened last night, she felt weak and looked left and right with her small eyes. Her voice became more and more shrill as she replied.

Before Qimu could say anything, Mrs. Lee frowned, waved her hand, and said:

"Alright, Mu. You, Eldest Aunt, can still eat your mother. Maybe she's just taking it easy!"

Saying this, Mrs. Lee thought about the past and snorted.

Your dad and Yangyang will be going back soon. Why aren't you cooking first?

Mrs. Lee was already opening her mouth to chase him away.

Qimu didn't say anything after hearing his words. She just stood there by herself with her chest puffed up, smiling and looking at the big family.

After a long while, when everyone was looking at her intently, Mrs. Lee's expression became even more sullen, and no one dared to speak again.

Qimu turned and left, accompanied by a soft, mocking "Ha!"

Forget it, her mother, she'll just find it for herself.

Mrs. Lee's swearing came from the main house behind them. Zhang Chuncao's echoing, Lee Zhiqing's "persuasion", and the noise of children … The room was filled with noise, but Qimu no longer paid any attention to it. She slowly and limply walked, searching for Yang Lili's figure in the Ye Family.

"..."

The Ye Family was not big, and Qimu had already looked through it all and shouted it, but there was no reply. She thought, could it be that Yang Lili had already returned?

With that thought in mind, Qimu sighed. She planned to go back and have a look, as they were both fooling around and making a fool of themselves.

But suddenly she stopped and remembered that she had not been to a place yet.

At the back of Ye Family Main House, there was a specially built pigsty, which was used to raise three or four pigs. Mrs. Lee and Zhang Chuncao both looked at the place seriously, as it was one of Ye Family's big revenues after all, and the children of Ye Family did not run over there when they had nothing to do, but would definitely be scolded when they got close.

Thinking of this, Qimu turned around and walked towards the pigsty. Since she had already searched for it, there wasn't a need for such a place.

Before Qimu got close, she could smell a stench from afar. She didn't care and didn't have the energy to dislike it. She slowly walked closer and carefully looked at the pigsty.

Slowly approaching...

When that person's figure appeared, the terrible sight that entered her eyes caused a burning hot tear to slide down her cheek without any warning. She tightly pursed her lips, and her face was filled with grief and indignation.

"Mother …"