Chapter 28: Goodness

  Here is the second dish~~~~ Have a happy weekend!

  "What's going on, so happy? Won't be sneaking a snack, will you?" Ye Baiji teased, hearing the excited voice of Hu Zi coming from inside the kitchen door.

  Hutou was just thinking of finding someone to share his good mood with, and he pulled Ye Baiji along, saying: "Sister Baiji, we're going to have our own house now!"

  Ye Baiji was confused by these words and looked at Qi Zhen'er, asking in confusion: "What's going on? What house?"

  Qizhen'er chopped vegetables and said: "My body has almost recovered, so I plan to move out with Huzi."

  "Move out?" Ye Baiji shouted in surprise, "Who made you move out? Is it that dead girl Ye Baiqi? Wait for me, I'll go and teach her a lesson."

  Qī Zhēnér saw Yè Bái zhǐ saying that she was about to rush out to find Yè Bái jiǎo to settle the score, and hastily pulled her back: "Bái zhǐ sister, don't be so impulsive? It's not her business, listen to me slowly tell you."

  Ye Baiji calmed down after hearing that it had nothing to do with Ye Baixi, sat by the stove, burning fire while waiting for Qi Zhen'er to tell her slowly.

  "Bai Zhi sister, my wound has healed too, what's going on with me staying at your house all this time?" Qi Zhen'er said.

  "Who's stopping you from staying? Mind your own business!" Ye Baiji said irritably.

  Qizhen'er sighed and said, "It's not that simple. I've been living with Huzi in your house, doing nothing but eating, and it's only been a short time so far. But if this goes on for a long time? You know the personalities of the people in your household better than I do, don't you? And besides, when there are many people, there are many tongues, and that means many disputes too. Just look at me, I've only been living here for a few days, but I've already figured out everything about your household. If rumors start spreading outside in the future, it'll be impossible to clear them up."

  "We all know your temperament, and we must believe those that are not spread by you!" Ye Baiji said firmly.

  "How long have we known each other, and you still believe me like that?" Qi Zhen'er looked at Ye Baiji with a calm and collected expression.

  Ye Baiji choked for a moment and said stiffly: "Anyway, I just know you're not someone who likes to stir up trouble, and I also believe you're a good kid."

  Qī Zhēn'er smiled slightly, someone believed that their feelings were really good: "You also don't be stubborn, in the future when looking at people don't just look at the surface. Also, I've already decided to move away, no matter how you persuade me it's useless. Now I'm telling you, you'd better have a psychological preparation."

  Ye Baiji threw down the fire tongs and said angrily: "Qi Zhener, you scoundrel! You said yesterday that you wanted to be neighbors with me, but today you've changed your mind!"

  The little boy was startled by her and trembled for a moment.

  Qī Zhēnér was also angered into a smile and said: "What's wrong with you? You scared Tǔzi. I haven't finished speaking yet, why are you getting angry?"

  Ye Baiji stared at Qi Zhen'er with her eyes, but didn't say a word.

  Qizhen'er continued: "I see that there are still some wasteland in the village, I plan to choose a piece of land and build a few thatched cottages first, move over with Huzi, and then build better ones when we have money later. I was going to ask for your opinion too, but you got angry before I even finished speaking."

  Ye Baiji's face turned red and she pouted, saying: "Who told you not to make it clear? You made me think you were going to take Hu Zi to find that uncle of yours."

  Saying that, he became excited again, "This idea is not bad, let's ask Grandpa later and see what the village policy is about wasteland. It's best to choose a piece of land near our home."

  Zijin also thought so, it's better to be close and have each other's support.

  "Hurry up and cook, let's eat and then go find Grandfather to ask him." Qizhen said. Suddenly she found out that she didn't know when it started, but she had unconsciously added a hint of intimacy when calling Ye Lao, which was something she had never done with her own grandfather.

  "Alright, I'll get the fire going and see how well our Zhen'er can cook." Ye Baiju added a few pieces of kindling to the stove.

  It was late in the afternoon, so Qizhen and the others just cooked some noodles to fill their stomachs, waiting for everyone to have dinner together at night.

  While Qizhen and the others were happily eating noodles, Ye Baihe led in Ye Baizi, followed by a small boy who looked about the same age as Hu Zi.

  "Alright, Bai Zhi sister, you're having a private meal, I'll go tell Grandpa." The little boy said as he walked in and saw them holding their bowls.

  Ye Bai touched his head with her hand.

  Ye Baiji rolled her eyes and looked at them with disgust. It was laughable that they still didn't have the self-awareness to know better, and instead chose to come and annoy her while she was eating.

  "Go tell on me, Grandpa knows too, and it's still Grandpa who let us eat this." Ye Baiji said calmly, and deliberately took a big mouthful of noodles, sucking loudly.

  Ye Baiju knew that this was not a false statement. If the old master didn't speak up, Ye Baiju wouldn't have had the guts to start a small stove with these two outsiders. However, knowing is one thing, but she also wouldn't let them eat in peace.

  "Grandfather didn't say that each household should pay grain according to the number of people in their household? Bai Zhi sister, you didn't eat at noon, now it's okay to make up for it, but whose household is this Zhen Er and her brother's grain counted as?" Ye Bai Zhu said.

  Ye Baiji glared at her and said: "This is what Grandfather told me to eat, if you have the nerve, go ask Grandfather about it!"

  Ye Baiji had always looked down on Qi Zhen'er, and now Ye Baiji was obviously unreasonable. She had to give Ye Baizhou a boost. She scolded: "Qi Zhen'er, your face is really thick! My grandfather saved you, you didn't repay him, but instead relied on our family's white rice and white drink, you don't know shame!"

  That kid was at the age where he liked to imitate others, and seeing Hu Zi who was about his age, he wanted to tease him a bit. Imitating Ye Baiyi's tone, he said to Hu Zi: "You're so shameless! You're so shameless!" He even stretched out his index finger and drew it across his face.

  Hu Zi has been under Liu Shi and Qi Feng Er's oppression since he was a child, where he doesn't understand what their facial expressions represent, and is so timid that he wants to put down his bowl.

  Qī Zhēnér was also annoyed to the point of losing her appetite. Moreover, Hǔ Zǐ had always been timid and fearful in his heart, especially when it came to eating. Now that they were saying he was eating for free and not allowing him to eat their family's food, it stirred up his inner fear of Liú Shì. His previously somewhat cheerful personality retreated again, and he couldn't eat anymore.

  The bowl was placed on the stove and was about to catch fire.

  Ye Baiji was already annoyed by what they said, but she also knew that at this time, she couldn't let Qizhen'er confront them. Just as Qizhen'er had understood the meaning of her words, it wasn't just the third house gossiping, if she continued to live there, it would be difficult to explain later. And Qizhen'er's siblings were planning to settle in this village, if they clashed with them, no matter what the truth was, others would say that Qizhen'er was wrong, after all, Qizhen'er's siblings were saved by the Ye family.

  "Ye Baiji, you have the nerve to say that again?" Ye Baiji shouted angrily.

  Ye Baiji was startled by her sister's appearance and hid behind Ye Baizhou. The little guy also ran away with a keen sense of awareness, probably to go back and tattle to his mother.

  Ye Baihe was calm and composed, staring directly at Qi Zhener and asking: "I heard that Sister Zhener went to the market today, how was it? Did you hear anything? I didn't deceive you, you can't even raise your own brother, in the end he'll be sold off as a servant girl. If she encounters someone with ill intentions, the fate of you and your brother will be uncertain!" As she spoke, she sighed twice, seemingly sympathizing with Qi Zhener's misfortune.

  "I think Huzi is about the same age as our family's Su Qi, and she can still be a playmate. If you become my maid, you won't have to separate from them either. How about that? Such a good thing isn't available every day, you know."

  Qizhen'er thought that after Ye Lao Yezi said so last night, they would give up this idea, but she didn't expect someone to still have a thief's heart.

  Qī Zhēnér didn't bother to deal with them, and walked straight out. When she reached Yè Bái Jì's side, she lowered her voice and said: "I don't know what they're talking about!" After finishing speaking, she left the kitchen without looking back.

  Ye Baihe's face suddenly turned black, and Ye Baizhi covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. This Ye Baihe still thought no one knew her true nature, every time pretending to be so noble and virtuous, gentle and elegant, making people praise her, now she's met her match.