Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Part 3

Ye Qiuniang had her back to the courtyard entrance, so Ming Rou was the first to spot A Tao. Still in the midst of her tantrum, she said in a less than friendly tone, “Who are you?”

A Tao wasn’t meeting Ming Rou for the first time, especially the little figure Ye Qiuniang had held in her arms the night before, looking so adorable. Seeing her so curt now, he didn’t feel offended. He grinned broadly and said, “My name’s Fan Tao. You can call me A Tao from now on. Manager Tong sent me to bring you rice and bedding.”

Only then did Ming Rou remember this. She felt a little embarrassed about her earlier attitude. In the past, she might not have thought twice about it, but given her current circumstances, she had no ground for airs. She couldn’t speak as she used to.

Looking at A Tao, she thought this big brother seemed simple-minded, like an ox, but not unpleasant.

Squirming a bit, she stood up and pointed inside. “Put the rice in the kitchen, and the bedding in the room next door.”

Still smiling, A Tao put the things away according to her directions, then walked over to them and said, “Qiuniang, anything else I can help with? If not, I’ll head back.”

Ye Qiuniang straightened up and shook her head at him.

Seeing there was nothing else for him to do, A Tao chuckled cheerfully and left.

Watching his retreating figure, Ming Rou couldn’t help but mutter, “What a fool.”

Ye Qiuniang turned around, fixing her with a deep gaze.

Pouting, Ming Rou said, “He looks so simple-minded and always grinning like that. Isn’t he like a fool?”

“Even so, you shouldn’t just say it out loud.” Ye Qiuniang’s face showed neither joy nor anger.

Ming Rou felt wronged. “I’m only saying it in front of you. Is that still not allowed?”

“What if he overheard?”

“He’s already gone, he didn’t hear.” Ming Rou grew even more unhappy.

Seeing that Ye Qiuniang was about to lecture her further, Ming Rou stood up and threw her arms around her waist, whining coquettishly, “Jiujiu, you can’t scold me because of an outsider.”

Ye Qiuniang looked at the dark little head burrowed into her chest and sighed helplessly. “A Tao is a good child, and also a pitiful one. You and your thoughtless words.”

“Hmph, I didn’t really mean he’s a fool. I just said it casually. He brought us rice, and I’m more than grateful, so how could I disparage him?” Ming Rou hurriedly explained.

Ye Qiuniang naturally knew Ming Rou’s temperament. It was just that seeing her so immature, she always wanted to say something. But now, with Ming Rou acting spoiled and burrowing into her arms, her anger instantly dissolved.

“Alright, the water’s hot. Go wash up. You’re filthy all over.”

“But I don’t have a change of clothes.” Ming Rou’s earlier mood plummeted again. Everything around her constantly reminded her of her current situation. Even the joy from playing with water instantly vanished.

Ye Qiuniang went inside and rummaged through the sack A Tao had carried over. Besides two thin blankets, there were also two sets of clothes. They looked like the style worn by servants on the Paulownia Village estate.

She brought out the smaller set. “That fool you were just calling names even prepared clothes for you. Come on, there’s a small room inside the kitchen. Wash up there.”

After her bath, Ming Rou became a bit calmer. She sat on the small stool, watching the fire under the stove. On the little black pot, white porridge was bubbling.

Now it was Ye Qiuniang’s turn to clean up. Ming Rou sat there alone, looking at the empty, dilapidated two rooms around her. Suddenly she thought of her maternal grandfather, who would never return, and of her mother, whose situation was now unknown. For a moment, she felt deeply sorrowful.

Yesterday, when she left the Ming Residence, she had been running entirely on a burst of stubbornness. She felt that no matter what, she couldn’t compromise. Once out, she would find a way, even if it meant begging, to become strong and reclaim the Ming Family’s assets.

But now, after truly settling in, she realized how insignificant her own power was, unable to even secure food and warmth.

The more she thought about it, the more frightening it became. It was only because Jiujiu was by her side that she had been able to find a temporary foothold so easily. If she had been alone, not only would she have been unable to reach Paulownia Village smoothly, she might not have even survived last night.

When Ye Qiuniang finished tidying herself and came out, she saw the young girl sitting numbly by the stove, her eyes vacant and unmoving.

“Eldest Miss…”

When Ming Rou turned her little face, it was streaked with tears.

Ye Qiuniang set the clothes in her hand aside, walked up to her, and crouched down. She gently cupped her face, her thumbs gliding over her cheeks, wiping away her tears one by one.

“What is there for Eldest Miss to be sad about?”

“Jiujiu, Grandfather will never come back… Mother doesn’t want me either… I have no home…” She choked and sobbed, unable to finish her words.

Scalding tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes like beads off a broken string, dripping onto the back of Ye Qiuniang’s hand. In that instant, Ye Qiuniang felt a certain part of her heart being seared as well.

“Eldest Miss, don’t be sad. Don’t you still have Jiujiu? Qiuniang will stay with you. We have a home now. And in the future, this home will become an even bigger home. The Old Master’s foundation will return…”

Hearing these words, Ming Rou’s tears gradually stopped. “Really, Jiujiu? Can I really take the Ming Family back from that man?”

“Of course, absolutely. Eldest Miss is so clever. Right now, we are in a disadvantaged position. Let’s recuperate and hide our strengths for now, then strike when the time is ripe.”

Hearing such comfort, Ming Rou felt her mood instantly lift. She looked up at Ye Qiuniang, fresh from her bath, her face flushed pink from the hot water, a sight hard to tear one’s eyes from. Right now, she was only wearing a white inner garment, the curves of her chest making her look like a ripe peach exuding an alluring fragrance.

Ming Rou blinked slightly and said, “Jiujiu, you’re so beautiful.”

One moment she was worried about family affairs, and the next she was praising her beauty. Ye Qiuniang was a little stunned by this sudden shift in mood. She lowered her hands and shot her a charmingly reproachful glare. “Little child, what do you know about beauty and ugliness?”

Ming Rou shook her head. “I’m not a child. I’m thirteen this year. After New Year’s, I’ll be fourteen. In two more years, I’ll have my Hairpin Ceremony. Then I’ll be an adult, just like Jiujiu.”

“Still calling yourself an adult? So who was that little adult shedding tears just now?”

Hearing this, Ming Rou instantly blushed. Squirming a little, she said, “I… just now, I was moved by the scene, so I was a bit sad.”

Hearing her mention being moved by the scene, Ye Qiuniang couldn’t bear to tease her further. She stood up and carried her and Ming Rou’s clothes to the large wooden tub outside to soak, to be washed after they ate.

The porridge on the stove was steaming hot, the aroma of rice filling the air. A wooden spoon stirred it gently, the thick porridge clinging to the spoon, looking extremely appetizing.

Ming Rou never imagined there’d come a day when even plain porridge would make her gulp so eagerly.

Seeing her greedy expression, Ye Qiuniang couldn’t help but laugh. She pursed her lips and served her a bowl of plain porridge, setting it on the small wooden table.

“Come drink your porridge. We have nothing at home right now except salt. Eldest Miss will have to endure only porridge for a while. When we have time to go out, we’ll gather some wild greens. Then we can eat them with the porridge.”

Ming Rou now understood the hardships of life, so she dared not make any demands. Besides, she had only eaten a sweet potato in the morning and her stomach had been growling with hunger. She moved her little stool over to the small table, picked up her spoon, stirred it a few times, then turned around.

“Jiujiu, you eat too. I’ll wait for you.”

After saying this, she stood up to get a bowl, wanting to serve porridge for Ye Qiuniang as well.

But the porridge was still in the pot, boiling hot. Ye Qiuniang feared she would burn her tender little hands, so she took the bowl and ladled it herself.

Even though she hadn’t managed to serve the porridge, at least she had handed over the bowl. Ming Rou felt instantly overjoyed. She sat on the little stool, watching Ye Qiuniang carry the porridge over, her two bright eyes fixed intently on her.

“Staring into space for what? Drink your porridge, and be careful, it’s hot.”

Ming Rou hummed in acknowledgment, nodded, and only then began eating her porridge.

What had Ming Rou eaten at home before? Either exquisite delicacies or refined meats. She’d pick whatever was most expensive. Since Ye Qiuniang came to the Ming Residence, she had been eating properly for a while and no longer wasted food indiscriminately. But no matter what, she would never have chosen such coarse food as her first choice.

Now, after being hungry for two meals, she found this plain porridge rich and sweet, so enticing.

“Jiujiu, why is this porridge so delicious? Before, I wouldn’t even glance at plain porridge on the table.”

Ye Qiuniang smiled. “Have you forgotten that poem we learned as children? ‘When hungry, even hemp porridge smells fragrant; when thirsty, even cloud broth tastes sweet.’ You’ve been hungry for so long, so even plain porridge tastes delicious.”

Ming Rou took another mouthful of porridge, smacking her lips, and said, “Though that may be true, if this porridge itself wasn’t good, I’m afraid I wouldn’t find it so tasty either.”

Ye Qiuniang then slowly explained, “This porridge is made from rice and grain produced in Paulownia Village. The location here is excellent, close to the upper reaches of the Wanyang River. When the Wanyang River flows through Pingle County, a small branch splits off toward Paulownia Village. This little branch is called the Azure Canal. Since flowing through here, irrigation in Paulownia Village has been much more convenient. Even when the Wanyang River’s water level rises, a bend at the canal’s mouth blocks the flood peak, so Paulownia Village never suffers from floods. Coupled with fertile soil, the grain produced here is much better than in other places.”

Hearing this, Ming Rou couldn’t help but say, “Paulownia Village is so wonderful, yet Grandfather was determined to sell it. It truly baffles me.”

Ye Qiuniang gave a light cough and said, “The Old Master must have had his reasons. Now it seems the new master is also an easygoing person. If we need help in the future, on account of the Old Master, it shouldn’t be too difficult to ask her for assistance.”

Ming Rou nodded. “Paulownia Village’s location is indeed excellent. But the areas along the river near our county seat are terrible. They suffer constant floods. I’ve heard that right when the farmers’ rice is about to be harvested, the rainy season comes and washes it all away. The Imperial Court doesn’t even send anyone to manage the water. Big trouble is bound to happen in the future.”

Then, reconsidering, she added, “But in our current situation, how can we be thinking about those things? We have to survive first. Jiujiu, I won’t let you earn money to support the family all by yourself. I’ll farm with you. When the new master of Paulownia Village comes back, I’ll ask again if there’s any suitable job for me.”

Ye Qiuniang looked at her sparkling eyes, and a soft smile spread across her lips. “I naturally believe in Eldest Miss.”