During famine years, I had a divination slip in hand, and my whole family ate chicken, duck, fish, a

"You just look down on your Uncle Shuanzi because he's poor, don't you?"

As Ye Laoshuan spoke, he became more and more agitated and even choked up. "You provided the grain. Every few days, your brother would bring firewood. Your father was afraid that I would get cold, so he insisted on making two more sets of clothes from the fine cotton cloth that you had given him as a token of your filial piety, saying that he didn't want to wear them to me!"

Second daughter, your Uncle Shuanzi isn't a heartless person. He'll remember your family's help and will never be able to repay you in this life, but he'll serve you like a slave in the next!

As he spoke, he plopped down on the kang (a heated brick bed), his chest heaving violently with anger.

"Now look what's happened! All you did was use your uncle's house and you're paying money? You're calling me, you're calling me..."

He burst into tears, which caught Ye Qingqing off guard. She forced a smile and said...

"Uncle Shuanzi, don't get excited, don't get excited. My dad told me to get this!"

"Fine, fine, I'll do as you say. Can't I just use your house for free?"

Old Man Ye then wiped away his tears and said bitterly,

"Don't drag your dad into this! You know perfectly well that your uncle is lucky to be able to use the house for free from you!"

Ye Qingqing finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But my heart felt warm and cozy.

If everyone treated each other like this, wouldn't the world have been peaceful long ago?

"Uncle, Aunt, let me briefly explain something to you... You saw it the other day, those bandits in Qing Shi Town were eyeing our grain. I have to be careful."

Ye Qingqing put away her money pouch, pursed her lips and said, "That family of five, three of the brothers know martial arts, so I hired them to guard my house."

You two are used to a peaceful life, and it will definitely be noisy when his family comes over. Please bear with us.

I'll remind them to tidy up properly. If they have any complaints, don't argue with them; just tell me directly.

Old Man Ye waved his hand.

"You don't need to remind me, my yard is just too quiet these days, I wish it were more lively with people around!"

Aunt Shuanzi said with a smile,

"Yes, Second Sister, we're not that competitive. You can tell people that our house has all the necessary appliances, like pots and stoves, so they can use them freely."

"Then thank you, Uncle and Aunt. I'll have them move in right away."

My dad told me to let them know that if the family needs anything, just ask.

Ye Qingqing stood up to thank him, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then left.

After the Zhao brothers were brought over, the family of five looked at the side room that could provide shelter from the wind and rain.

Although it was a dilapidated mud-brick house, the walls were thick and the windows were sturdy with straw paper. The large earthen bed was swept clean and a new layer of straw was laid on it.

There was a fire burning in the kang (a heated brick bed), and when you opened the door, a wave of warmth rushed out.

It's clear that Mr. and Mrs. Ye put a lot of effort into it.

The three Zhao brothers were so moved that tears streamed down their faces.

"Father, Mother, we finally have a place to stay!"

"We have a place to stay and food to eat, so at least we can get through this winter..."

"Dad, Mom, come on up to the kang! I feel the kang is warm..."

The three brothers carried their father on their backs and their mother on their backs, and then put her on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Make way, make way, make way..."

Li Chunyan's loud voice came from outside, and she rushed in carrying several patched-up quilts.

"Qingqing, I thought Aunt Zhao was in poor health, so I brought over the bedding we used before and gave it to them."

All the bedding in the house is brand new now, made of fine cloth and thick cotton. She had been wanting to get rid of these old quilts for a long time.

It's perfect for doing someone a favor.

"Master, this...this is unacceptable...this is unacceptable..."

Old Zhao quickly waved his hand, trembling, and said, "Our family has received enough kindness from the Lord's family, how can we possibly repay such a debt of gratitude!"

Li Chunyan said with a smile,

"Alright, forget about gratitude. Your family is employed by my family. Just work hard from now on."

As she spoke, she quickly spread the old quilts on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Boss, come here."

Old Zhao, supporting his eldest son's hand, shakily climbed off the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and knelt down with difficulty, supporting himself on his knees. "This old man kowtows to the master! The master is our family's savior!"

"I'm not saying anything more. If the eldest, second, and third sons don't work properly for the master's family from now on, I'll beat them to death!"

He and his wife weren't sick; they were simply starving.

The Ye family fed him some hot water, and he slurped down some hot soup and ate some big white steamed buns, finally pulling him back from the brink of death.

Ye Qingqing quickly offered a helping hand.

"Uncle, I'm young and can't accept such a grand gesture from an old man."

Brother Zhao, quickly help the old man up.

Aunt Zhao also struggled to get up and kowtow, but Li Chunyan pressed her down.

"What are you saying? My family isn't using you for free. Uncle and Aunt, just relax and stay here. We're building a new house and a new yard this spring, and we'll need your help a lot."

Ye Qingqing glanced at the three brothers indifferently and gave the order.

"Alright, we're going back now. Make sure your parents are settled in properly, and help out at Uncle Shuanzi's house."

One more thing, don't cause any trouble, or I'll lose my temper.

"Rest assured, Master."

The eldest brother, Zhao, pulled the second and third brothers down to their knees with a thud, and raised their heads high to say...

"From now on, the three of us brothers belong to the Master's family, and whatever the Master says goes!"

……

The three brothers remained kneeling on the ground until Ye Qingqing left.

Zhao Laosan looked outside and said with a puzzled expression,

"Eldest brother, second brother, don't you think the master's house is the same kind of dilapidated mud-brick house?"

How come they have both grain and pork at home... and they're even building a new house in the spring?

What are you envious of?

The eldest son, supporting himself on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed), said with a stern face, "If others have it, that's theirs. If you're so capable, go earn it yourself!"

Zhao Laosan quickly waved his hand.

"Big brother, that's not what I meant! I was thinking that this second girl is definitely something special. Can you see the ruthlessness hidden in her eyes?"

"We're so lucky to have such a family to serve!"

Zhao Lao Er nodded and said,

"The third brother is right. I can also tell that the girl is definitely not an ordinary person."

There's an old saying: "Follow a general and you'll become his lieutenant; follow the emperor and you'll become his eunuch..."

"We've finally managed to get in touch with the family, so we have to work hard from now on and learn from them. Maybe we can become as successful as them someday!"

"Bang Bang..."

Old Man Ye knocked on the door, carrying a kettle of hot water. "Brother Zhao, I've brought you some hot water."

He overheard the three brothers talking inside the house and realized that the Zhao family was honest, which put his mind at ease.

He wouldn't stand for it if that family secretly said anything bad about Er Yatou's family or tried to scheme against them!

"Brother, thank you for your trouble."

Old Zhao coughed twice and quickly greeted him, "My whole family lives here, we're sorry to trouble you, brother."