“Wife, did you get wet in the rain? You're frail, be careful. We'll have a few bowls of ginger soup later to ward off the cold!”
It was rare for someone to be angry yet still show concern.
“Chunfen is getting it. I figured you were washing up and she didn’t want to intrude. We’ll drink it together. We'll leave it at that for today. Tomorrow, we'll send someone to scout the surrounding area!”
Fan Zehao nodded with a hint of anger. There was no better option. It was best to let the others rest and deal with everything tomorrow.
“I’ll listen to you!”
A large pot of thick ginger soup was brewed, which broke the old man's heart. All the ginger they had saved all winter was used up. Although he had been given money, his heart still ached.
In the evening, Chunfen cooked a few dishes and heated the remaining dry rations from the carriage. The aroma alone had lured the old man out from the east room where he had been hiding.
The old man was peeking through the kitchen window, watching Chunfen place steaming hot meat dishes on the table. The smell made his mouth water, let alone the sight of the meat on the plates.
He licked his lips, his mouth watering. Just looking at it was enough to satisfy his craving.
Chen Yusheng, carrying a carrying pole, returned from outside. As he entered the yard, he saw his father bent over, peeking through the window with his eyes fixed on the kitchen. The smell of meat wafted towards him, and his brow furrowed.
He called out, “Dad, what are you doing? Whose carriage is that in our yard?”
The sudden appearance of his son’s voice behind him startled him, his heart pounding. He patted his chest and silently cursed his only son, “You’re going to be the death of me! You can come back without shouting. I’m not deaf, I can hear you.”
Chen Yusheng felt a bit wronged. If he didn’t announce his return, his father wouldn’t know he was back. Besides, with the unusual situation at home, he had to ask!
“Dad, whose carriage is that?” Chen Yusheng gazed longingly at the horses, itching to touch them.
Old Man Chen waved him away impatiently, “Go on, get out of here. That’s the owner’s carriage. Stop bothering me!”
Not only couldn't he see the meat, but seeing someone else competing for it made him irritable.
Seeing his father's impatient look, Chen Yusheng stopped asking questions. He glanced at the figures in the south room and then lowered his head, returning to the east room.
As for who the owner was, he would wait for his father’s mood to improve before he would tell him.
Shi He saw the conversation between the father and son. He raised his eyebrows silently and left without a word.
Finally, they had a hot meal at night, and Zhao Jiaqi’s bad mood improved somewhat.
The next day, the sky was very overcast. Although it wasn't raining, it looked like it would.
Sitting on the bed, she watched the father and son talking outside. Old Man Chen scolded Chen Yusheng, “What if it rains? Even if it rains knives, you have to go out and work. Do what you can. You can’t just stay home and freeload. Get out.”
With that, Old Man Chen threw the carrying pole to him and chased him out to work.
“Dad, it’s been raining for days. The river has overflowed, and there are no boats on the river. There are no merchant or passenger ships at the docks. Where am I supposed to find work to carry goods?”
If there were no people, how could he earn money?
Even if he were given an empty bowl to beg on the street, there would be no one to beg from because the streets were empty.
Chen Yusheng said in a wronged, low voice, every word filled with helplessness. It wasn't that he was lazy, but the rain was incessant.
Inside the house, Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao were of the same mind. She said, “On a rainy day like this, it’s perfect for gossiping. Since our dry rations are also gone, why don’t we ask that Chen Yusheng to take us to town to buy some food?”
Fan Zehao looked at Chen Yusheng outside, who was rather handsome. He looked a bit like Murong Sheng, and his brow furrowed. His wife seemed to like people of this type.
He immediately felt that he couldn't let his wife have any contact with him. He shook his head and refused, “Wife, although the rain has stopped outside, the humidity is too high. I’m afraid you’ll be uncomfortable if we go out. It’s better to rest at home. Whatever you want to ask, I can tell you. I promise to find out everything about this place, from their ancestors to the present generation, alright!”
There was no reason why not. She smiled and nodded, “Okay, you go ahead. I’ll lie down for a while longer.”
Seeing that his wife agreed so readily, Fan Zehao was secretly pleased. He left with a smile, his steps a little lighter.
Soon, Sixi led the carriage, pulling Fan Zehao and Chen Yusheng away. Zhao Jiaqi, with nothing to do, wanted to lie down for a while, but Old Man Chen came to the door proactively.
Chunfen said, “Madam, Old Man Chen wants to know if he can buy some of the leftover meat dishes from yesterday.”
There was no logic in selling leftovers. Even if he did, that stingy Old Man Chen would probably only offer a few copper coins.
Otherwise, if he had given him ten taels of silver, he wouldn’t have spent more than ten coins to buy a pound of pork to satisfy his craving!
“Go invite him in. Then, pack the remaining dishes and dry rations into a food box and give them to him.”
After Zhao Jiaqi instructed Chunfen, a moment later, he appeared in the room, a little flustered.
“Madam, I…” Old Man Chen awkwardly tugged at the hem of his clothes.
Before this, he didn’t think this family was particularly wealthy or well-behaved. But when he first entered the house, the guard’s eyes were as wide as ox eyes, and his hand was already on the saber at his waist.
That maidservant had also seriously said that she would report back to the madam before making a decision. At this point, Old Man Chen was a little timid.
Zhao Jiaqi looked at his wrinkled face and smiled, saying, “Sir, don’t be nervous. I don’t eat people. Sit down and chat with me for a while. The leftover dishes and dry rations are yours for free. No money needed!”
Old Man Chen kept nodding, but he thought to himself: You might not eat people, but those servants outside are quite fierce!
However, he didn’t dare to say it aloud, for fear of upsetting her. If those people killed him, he wouldn’t have spent all his money and would have lost his life. It wouldn’t be worth it.
“Madam, I’m not very good at chatting. Don’t get unhappy with me later… We’ve agreed, whether I say it right or wrong, don’t be angry with this old man!”
Zhao Jiaqi readily agreed, “It’s just a casual chat. There’s no right or wrong. You don’t need to be nervous. We’re not bad people.”
Chatting about everyday life… He was good at that. His nervous mood eased by half, and his posture changed from formal to relaxed.
He crossed his legs, placed his hands on his knees, and raised his chin. “I may not know much about other things, old man, but I’m an expert when it comes to everyday gossip. In this village, I know who gave birth, and whose husband was cuckolded. For example, the family next door to the next door, their wife has something going on with the man in my backyard. Only I know about it; no one else does!”
Once he started talking, he was like a loaded submachine gun, firing incessantly without regard.
She didn’t want to hear this kind of gossip, so she immediately interrupted him and changed the subject, “You certainly know a lot. If that’s the case, you know more than the village chief!”