Yang Xi explained that Zhong Jin was the xiànlìng of Xiang County and described the place where they were serving corvée labor. “Now that Big Brother Zhong is looking after your son, Mother, you don’t have to worry about him anymore.”

Ye Shi digested the news for a moment. “The eldest son of the Zhong family?”

“Yes, Brother Zhong is the xiànlìng of Xiang County.”

When Ye Shi went south, she had considered seeking refuge with the Zhong family, but her son had rejected the idea. On one hand, he feared exposing the Zhong family would bring trouble; on the other hand, the Zhong family had many members, and their family wasn’t destitute. It was better to find a place to settle down on their own.

Unexpectedly, they had run into each other!

“Our two families are destined to meet,” sighed Madam Ye. Yang Xi wanted to say that she and Zhou Yu had been reincarnated and deeply understood a principle: it was better to rely on yourself than on outsiders; only by relying on yourself can you truly depend on others. “I estimate Brother Zhong will come to see you tomorrow.”

Madam Ye wasn’t ashamed to face people because of the difference in their social status; she was originally a peasant woman. “Alright, I’ll ask about the Zhong family’s situation too.”

Her husband had passed away last year, and their family had moved south. They stopped communicating with the Zhong family at the end of the year. Thinking of this, Madam Ye’s mood became even more somber.

She didn’t want to come into contact with anyone or anything related to her husband; it would remind her of him—the one who had protected her and never abandoned her was now dead.

Zhou Xiaomei didn’t know much about the Zhong family. The Zhong family had left the capital many years ago, and Zhou Xiaomei, being sensible, rarely heard her father mention them.

Zhou Xiaomei was very worried. “Saozi, we’ve come to Ruizhou to live in anonymity. Can the Zhong family be trusted? Will they betray us?”

Yang Xi took Xiaomei’s hand, comforting her anxiety. “No, Uncle Zhong is a good official, a confidant of Father. It’s just that we can’t contact him openly. Uncle Zhong is trustworthy.”

Uncle Zhong wasn’t the kind of person to sell his principles for power. He could have gained more power in the capital, but he resolutely resigned to uphold his principles. No one would betray the Zhou family, and Uncle Zhong wouldn’t.

Ye Shi leaned against the cushion. “Your father is a man of his word. Besides his friends in the capital, he also has connections in various places. Although your father never took on any students, he still left behind many ancestral connections.”

Zhou Xiaomei’s face changed. “Mother, don’t mention our friends in the capital. When we were in trouble, not a single person offered a helping hand.”

She would never forget the scene of carrying the coffin out of the mansion, with no one helping them in the heavy snow!

Yang Xi’s hand was gripped by Xiaomei, who harbored resentment.

Startled, Madam Ye quickly said, “Alright, alright, Mother won’t mention it again.”

Zhou Xiaomei pursed her lips. “I haven’t heard Father mention the Zhong family. Saozi, we’d better be careful.”

Having finally settled down, she didn’t want to continue running away.

Yang Xi explained, “Back in the capital, Father and Uncle Zhong’s apparent discord was just an act. They had a good relationship in private, and they didn’t keep their interactions private to avoid attracting attention. You were too young then, so I didn’t mention it to you.”

She wondered if, in their previous life in ancient times, since the Zhong family hadn’t received the Zhou family’s letter, Uncle Zhong would have realized something was wrong with the Zhou family. Thinking of the chaos in Bozhou, even if the Zhong family bypassed Bozhou to go to the capital, a round trip would take a long time.

Yang Xi calculated the time: a letter sent by fast horse to Quanzhou during the New Year would take more than a month, and it would be summer by the time the Zhong family sent someone to the capital to deliver the message. By then, their family would have already returned to their ancestral home and perished in the fire.

Once the Zhong family found the Zhou family’s ancestral home, they could only collect their ashes!

That evening, with Zhou Yu absent from the dinner table, the meal was unusually quiet. The unexpected presence of Zhong Jin further distracted Zhou Xiodi.

After dinner, Third Yang spoke up, “I inquired about Zhong Xiànlìng this afternoon.”

He trusted his own accounts more, so he went to the county town upon his return and spent a considerable sum of money inquiring about the xiànlìng.

Yang Xi stopped getting up and sat back down. “Were you satisfied with your inquiries?”

Yang Xi grew up in the Zhou family and had met Zhong Jin privately many times. She had a good understanding of Zhong Jin’s character.

Third Yang touched his nose. “I’ve heard about the xiànlìng from different people. Zhong Xiànlìng always handles practical matters in the county government. He cares about people’s livelihoods and disciplines the yamen runners. The people all say Zhong Xiànlìng is good. He only has a wife and no concubines. He’s a man of great loyalty and righteousness.”

Yang Xi was pleased that Zhong Jin hadn’t changed, and her voice was filled with laughter. “Are you relieved now?”

Third Yang’s ears turned red. “I like to be a little naive first, but Zhong Xiànlìng is indeed a good man.”

Yang Xi said, “Zhong Xiànlìng will probably come tomorrow. You should all stay home and meet him.”

Third Yang’s eyes sparkled. “Okay.”

He really wanted to meet Zhong Xiànlìng in person!

That night, Yang Xi lay in bed, hugging her son for warmth. No one was there to massage her legs and warm her feet today. Tsk tsk, after experiencing so much, she was still being sentimental. However, being pregnant did make her think more, but fortunately, her heart was strong enough.

Yang Xi felt her baby kick her, and it really hurt. She reached out to comfort the baby, “Your father isn’t home, so there’s no reading to listen to today. Be a good boy.”

The baby kicked again as soon as she finished speaking, and her leg twitched a little. She had taken calcium supplements. Well, pregnancy really does make you fussy; being pregnant was so hard. She hadn’t slept well all night, even though her son was like a little furnace; she still felt terrible.

After breakfast, Yang Xi didn’t dare to take a nap, estimating the time. Sure enough, just as she had guessed, Brother Zhong’s family arrived.

Brother Zhong entered the courtyard in a carriage, and Yang Xi went to greet him. Seeing the servants carrying gifts, she quickly said, “Brother, why did you bring so many gifts? My mother is already very happy that you and Saozi could come.”

This was the first time Yang Xi had met Zhong Jin’s wife. Zhong Jin was five years older than Zhou Yu, turning thirty after the New Year. Previously, the two families had only visited each other privately in the capital, with Uncle Zhong always bringing Zhong Jin along.

There was a banquet in the capital, but because her mother-in-law was in poor health and she was engaged early on and rarely went out, she had only heard Uncle Zhong say that Zhong Jin’s wife was virtuous, and today was indeed the first time she had met her.

Zhong Jin glanced around the courtyard; it wasn’t large, and he felt a pang of sadness. “Auntie is not well, so I brought all the nourishing tonics. Please don’t refuse.”

Zhu Shi warmly embraced Yang Xi’s arm. “It’s cold outside, and you’re pregnant. Let’s go inside and talk.”

Yang Xi was taken aback but felt relieved by Zhu Shi’s kindness. “Saozi is right; it’s cold outside. Let’s go inside and talk.”

Entering Ye Shi’s room, Zhong Jin saw that Ye Shi had aged considerably, and his eyes reddened. “Auntie, you’ve suffered so much.”

Ye Shi’s eyes also reddened. “It’s a miracle we made it south safely. I haven’t suffered much. Don’t stand; sit down and talk.”

Zhong Jin sat on the chair and looked around at the meager furnishings. The more he took in the humble surroundings, the worse he felt. Uncle Zhou had always been such a capable manager, and the Zhou family had once been well-off. His eyes reddened as he said, “Auntie, you’re coming back with me today.”

Madam Ye quickly waved her hand, “That won’t do. I’m already very happy that you came to see me. We’re content that we have a place to stay. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Zhong Jin’s eyes reddened again. The Zhou family was only missing Uncle Zhou. Yesterday, he went down to find a chance to talk to Zhou Yu and learned that the Zhou family had been raided and Uncle Zhou was buried in the capital. “I wrote a letter back to my hometown yesterday. My father will definitely come. If I don’t take good care of you, he’ll definitely beat me.”

Madam Ye wiped her tears with a handkerchief. “Your father is a sentimental person, which is why I can’t go back with you. I have my children with me. If you’re going to worry about anyone, don’t forget Yu’er and his wife.”

(End of Chapter)

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