Chapter 23: Part 2

Seeing this, Ruan Ming’s heart raced. She hurriedly said: It’s early. You must have been exhausted yesterday. Get some more sleep.

Indeed, Ye Fengwan was very tired. She replied: Okay. I’ll message you when I wake up later.

…

The Qu Residence. Qu Wu was summoned to the study. Expecting a harsh scolding, he was surprised to find no abnormality in Qu Wanshan’s voice behind the desk.

“What did you gain from visiting the Ye residence today?”

Qu Wu’s hanging heart finally settled. He quickly replied, “I wouldn’t call it a gain, but I dare to assert that Ye Fengwan was involved. But I couldn’t figure out how she returned to the Ye residence in such a short time without being detected by my men. Unless—”

“Unless what?” Qu Wanshan pressed.

“Unless she has a Spring Leg or some other ability. Otherwise, the Ye family’s wall is so high, she couldn’t have climbed it. But back then, Dad, you personally tested her ability. It was just a single E-rank Brain Domain Evolution. There can’t be any mistake.”

Qu Wanshan said impassively, “She doesn’t have one, but does that mean others don’t?”

Qu Wu froze upon hearing this, then slammed his fist on the table in frustration: “She tricked us again.”

Qu Wanshan sighed, “You can’t outmaneuver Ye Fengwan. She’s even more headstrong and cunning than Ye Jianggui.”

Hearing this, Qu Wu retorted indignantly, “Dad, I don’t agree with that. If Ye Fengwan is more headstrong than Ye Jianggui, why does she still rely on her sister?”

Qu Wanshan shook his head: “You, ah. Compared to your elder brother, you’re still too green.”

First, saying he couldn’t outwit Ye Fengwan, now saying he was inferior to Qu Ning. Qu Wu’s face flushed red, but he didn’t dare utter a word of rebuttal.

“I’ll handle this matter personally,” Qu Wanshan said.

Qu Wu exclaimed loudly, “Why would you go and give her face? Just let me do whatever needs doing.”

Qu Wanshan glared at him: “This mess you stirred up—not only did you fail to find evidence of Ye Fengwan’s betrayal, but you also provoked Ye Jianggui. Your brother came back and reported you, saying Ye Jianggui was so angry her face turned white, she couldn’t even speak. At this stage, don’t I have to personally go and clean up your mess?”

Hearing that Qu Ning had reported him, Qu Wu’s anger flared up. “Everything I do is for the Qu family and you, Dad! But what does Big Brother do? He clearly knows that crazy woman Ye Fengwan is suspicious, yet he protects her everywhere. Does he not know how many waves of people I painstakingly captured have been rescued by her and those Rebel Alliance scum!”

“Dad, you don’t know! The Unclaimed City charges sky-high prices no matter what they sell. Not a single person less is acceptable. Over the past few years, with the batches of people we’ve lost, who knows how many more supplies we could have traded back!”

Qu Wanshan stood up and looked out the window. After a long moment, he said, “I’ll talk to your brother about his side. You continue with the tasks I gave you. That batch of weapons from the Unclaimed City must be obtained.”

Qu Wu hurriedly replied, “Yes, Dad.”

Qu Wanshan glanced at him: “Alright, go change your clothes and come with me to the Ye residence to apologize.”

Qu Wu recoiled as if his tail had been stepped on, shouting, “I won’t go! Why should I apologize to her? I lost so many men on my side; I can’t swallow this anger.”

Qu Wanshan glared at him: “Are you going or not?”

Qu Wu fell silent, then finally said through gritted teeth, “Fine. I’ll go.”

…

Ye Jianggui didn’t wake until evening.

The two sisters sat at the dining table for dinner, each with their own plate, different dishes.

Ye Fengwan looked at the small portion of potato and greens in the bowl opposite her, then down at the duck leg and eggs in her own bowl, and lowered her eyes.

Ye Jianggui suddenly said, “Unless something unexpected happens, the Qu family will come over.”

Ye Fengwan didn’t lift her head: “What for?”

Ye Jianggui: “To apologize.”

Ye Fengwan gave a light scoff: “Qu Wanshan still can’t let go of his face-saving act, but it’s just for show, for you.”

Ignoring her grumbling, Ye Jianggui continued, “He will most likely propose that you leave the Safe Zone.”

Ye Fengwan abruptly looked up upon hearing this: “He wants to eliminate me!”

Ye Jianggui: “The original agreement was for me to stay at Base One and devote all effort to solving the food problem while your matter was to be written off completely. But now, aside from organic food, the food problem itself might no longer be a major issue. The main reason they’re keeping me now is to make me participate in the Second Research Institute’s project—to develop a serum that can awaken ordinary people’s abilities without side effects, or a serum to awaken multiple abilities.”

“And keeping you around was mainly to use you as leverage against me. But they’ve realized they can’t control you at all, and you’re causing more and more trouble. So, in my view, their patience has run out. If not this time, it will be the next.”

Ye Fengwan raised an eyebrow: “Once I leave the Safe Zone, they can strike at any time. If I die outside, it’s at most an accident—either from a mutated beast, bandits, or some thugs. It has nothing to do with them. Even if you’re angry, you can’t do anything about it.”

Ye Jianggui nodded: “Therefore, you must stay in the Safe Zone.”

Only by keeping her under her watchful eyes could she have peace of mind.

Ye Fengwan swallowed her last bite of rice and said, “Sis, let me go.”

Ye Jianggui put down her chopsticks, picked up the handkerchief beside her, and wiped her hands. “No.”

Ye Fengwan had anticipated her attitude. Unhurriedly, she said, “If Qu Wanshan wants to convince you to let me leave the Safe Zone, they must arrange a suitable reason and a suitable location. The only reasonable place outside the Safe Zone right now is the New Land.”

“I think going to the New Land isn’t bad,” she added.

“No.” Ye Jianggui turned her wheelchair to leave.

Ye Fengwan hurriedly got up and followed behind her. “You know, my current project has been researched for many years with no progress. I’ve been cooped up in the lab for so long, and my perspective has been confined just as long. I feel maybe I need an opportunity. There are many materials outside, and even more test subjects. Maybe it’ll help—”

Ye Jianggui lightly interrupted her: “You’ll die out there.”

Ye Fengwan: “I value my life. I won’t die so easily.”

Ye Jianggui’s tone remained unchanged: “It’s not up to you whether you want to or not.”

Just then, Aunt Geng hurried in: “Little Gui, the Base Chief is here, at the door. Both young masters are with him.”

Ye Jianggui shot Ye Fengwan a glare, then said to Aunt Geng, “Push me out.”

Ye Fengwan also quickly shut her mouth and silently followed behind.

In the living room, Qu Wanshan was already seated on the sofa, with Qu Ning and Qu Wu beside him.

Seeing the two come out, Qu Wanshan beamed: “Jianggui, how is your health?”

Ye Jianggui’s face was pale, but her expression was as usual, neither servile nor overbearing: “Thank you for your concern, Uncle Qu. My health is alright.”

Ye Fengwan followed beside her, and her thin lips moved, also greeting him as “Uncle Qu.”

Qu Wanshan smiled: “Good, good, good. Sit down, let’s talk.”

Qu Ning came over, switched seats, and sat in the chair next to Ye Jianggui.

Seeing this, Qu Wu snorted coldly.

Ye Fengwan heard it clearly from the side, her gaze unmoving.

After sitting, Qu Wanshan said, “Yesterday, Little Wu was reckless. I heard it even triggered your illness. After I got home, I gave him a thorough beating. He knows he was wrong and begged me to accompany him to apologize to you.”

Ye Fengwan sat upright like a pine tree, eyes cast down to her nose, nose to her heart.

Ye Jianggui said coolly, “An apology is unnecessary. You know, Uncle Qu, Little Wan is my only family. If something happens to her, I most likely won’t survive either. I hope next time, before Second Young Master comes knocking, he will first verify the truth of the matter, lest things become unsightly for everyone.”

Qu Wu stepped forward and bowed to Ye Jianggui: “It was my subordinate’s mistake, my fault. I ask Institute Director Ye for your magnanimous forgiveness.”

Ye Jianggui: “Just this once. Never again.”

Qu Wu lowered his head in acknowledgment, but his fists inside his sleeves clenched. He quickly raised his head again and shouted at Ye Fengwan, “Ye Fengwan, do you dare, in front of my father and your sister, say you did not participate in the Rebel Alliance truck hijacking yesterday!”

Ye Fengwan’s lips curled with sarcasm.

So, that was the game they’d been waiting to spring.

Sure enough, the moment his words fell, Qu Wanshan’s face immediately darkened. He rebuked, “What did I tell you before we left? Now you start your antics again here! Get out!”

Qu Wu retorted, “Make Ye Fengwan answer.”

Qu Wanshan glanced at Ye Fengwan, then said to Ye Jianggui, “These two kids have been at odds since they were little. In my opinion, let them be apart for a while. If they don’t see each other, there won’t be so many conflicts.”

“How to separate them?” Ye Jianggui’s gaze was sharp as she looked at Qu Wanshan.

Qu Wanshan took a sip of tea: “In the New Land, many territories have been planting Purification Grass for two or three years now. According to your previous experimental data, within three to five years, most of the land should be able to grow crops again. Hundreds of territories, thousands of soil samples collected and sent to the Safe Zone every month—the back and forth wastes time. And soil values are also constantly changing. Previously, Qu Ning suggested to me that we directly send a few staff members from the research institute to test the soil on-site. Now, thinking about it again, I feel it’s very necessary—”

Qu Ning, on the side, hurriedly interjected, “I did make that suggestion, but I never said I meant for Little Wan to go there.”

Qu Wanshan hid the irritation in his eyes, a smile still on his lips: “If Little Wan doesn’t go, Qu Wu can go instead. Of course, I wouldn’t begrudge my own son. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have Little Wan’s skills.”

Ye Jianggui stared straight ahead, her expression neutral.

Qu Wanshan wouldn’t formally ask her opinion, so she wouldn’t proactively speak.

She was always like this.

Seeing she wouldn’t engage even after he’d said so much, Qu Wanshan had to say directly, “Why not let Little Wan go there for a while, finish the soil testing, and then return?”

Only then did Ye Jianggui speak: “Her safety there can’t be guaranteed. I’m worried.”

Qu Wanshan said, “The New Land is the grain-production development zone for Base One. You could say it’s our rear area. The army guards the perimeter, and there are patrol teams between territories. It’s not much worse than the Safe Zone.”

Ye Jianggui: “In that case, I’ll go with her.”

Qu Wanshan paused slightly, then smiled: “Jianggui, your health is inconvenient. It’s better you stay in the Safe Zone. There are professional medical teams here to care for you. Besides, if you go, how will your organic food supply be ensured? This absolutely won’t do.”

Just as Ye Jianggui was about to say something more, Ye Fengwan spoke up at this moment.

“Since Uncle Qu is uneasy with me staying in the Safe Zone, I’ll go to the New Land then. But you must think this through carefully. If something unfortunate happens to me out there, what you lose won’t be just a single good-for-nothing like me.”

Qu Wanshan frowned and chided, “What’s all this about death and dying? Did I tell you to go to the New Land to contribute to the base, making it sound like I’m sending you to your death? Are all those who went to the New Land as Territory Lords also sent to their deaths then?”

Ye Jianggui spoke up: “If Little Wan goes to the New Land and meets with an accident, I will transfer to Central City.”

Hearing her mention Central City, Qu Wanshan’s expression instantly darkened. “It’s settled. Ye Fengwan will leave for the New Land tomorrow morning.”