By the time Murong Mingyue was trying to find a way to leave the palace, disaster relief efforts in Qingshui County and several nearby counties were nearing completion.
The previously tightly closed gates of Qingshui County were now officially open.
"By God, I never thought this would actually work!"
Cui Xian was overwhelmed with emotion. The recent days of infamy had paid off; he had finally made it through.
"Your Excellency, this isn't over yet. It's going to be difficult to accommodate so many refugees,"
Zhang Hang's words brought Cui Xian back to reality.
True, the refugees wouldn't starve to death now, but only temporarily.
If resettlement wasn't done properly, chaos would soon return.
"Then, Old Zhang, do you have any ideas?"
Zhang Hang shook his head. He knew only a few words and had read little, so what could he possibly do?
"Your Excellency, I can't think of any solutions at the moment."
He had already gotten through the previous difficulties, and now he was just one step away from the final push.
Cui Xian didn't want to fail here.
With no solution in mind, he could only pace back and forth anxiously.
Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he remembered Ye Ming, who had offered Zhang Hang advice not long ago.
"Have you been able to find that Ye who gave you advice before?"
"Your Excellency, he hasn't been back since he left Qingshui County."
"Now that the city gates are open, I expect he'll be back in the county seat in a few days."
Cui Xian nodded.
"Well, if he comes, notify me immediately."
"If he doesn't come in the next two days, go to Qingshi Village and invite him in person."
"I understand."
At the entrance of Sujia Village.
After many days, Su Xiaorong finally returned to Sujia Village.
Looking at the place where she grew up, she felt a surge of emotion.
"I wonder how Mom and the others are doing."
Ye Ming gently stroked Su Xiaorong's head.
"Don't worry, Mom and the others will be fine."
The village before them was utterly dilapidated, many houses crushed by the weight of snow.
The grass on the roofs, soaked in moisture from the melting snow, darkened its color.
Compared to Qingshi Village, this place was even more dilapidated.
As they entered the village, they could see some people carrying baskets,
picking newly sprouted wild vegetables in the fields.
"Look, isn't that the money-loser from Su Ye's family?"
"Isn't that the fool who married Qingshi Village?"
"Why are you back again?"
"Who would have known? I guess she can't make it anymore, so she went back to her parents' home to find a way out..."
Su Xiaorong wasn't well-received in Sujia Village due to her appearance and her father's death.
Of course, the locals' gossip didn't reach Ye Ming, or he would have scolded them.
"My husband, the one in front is my old home,"
Su Xiaorong said, pointing to a thatched house with a slightly collapsed roof not far away.
"Fourth sister, isn't it time for your family to pay us back the grain they owe us?"
In the yard, a plump, displeased woman, accompanied by two burly men, stood in front of a village woman in her thirties.
Behind the village woman, a little boy of six or seven was hiding.
"Sister-in-law, can you give me a little more time? Once the spring plowing is over, I'll go and work weaving."
"I'll definitely pay you back every penny of the grain you owe me, okay?"
The village woman pleading was none
other than Su Xiaorong's mother, Chen Qiao. After Su Xiaorong married Ye Ming, the family's food supply quickly ran out.
Chen Qiao injured her foot while digging sweet potatoes in the mountains .
As the sole laborer in the family, she was left with no way to find food.
With no other options, she turned to her husband, Su Ye's eldest brother, to borrow grain.
"No, we've already given you a lot of time. You must pay me back today."
"If you don't have any food, you can just become a slut."
"Take on some guests in the village. You're quite attractive. I think you'll be able to pay me back in no time."
"That way, your son won't starve to death, how wonderful!"
Most people in Sujia Village had the surname Su, and they were related by blood.
If Chen Qiao really became a slut, she wouldn't be able to face living here any longer.
"Tian Xiuhua, please, for Su Ye's sake, can you give me a little more time?"
Tian Xiuhua's expression betrayed no pity, but rather growing impatience.
"Chen Qiao, don't be so shameless. I only lent you the food because Su Ye is my third brother."
"We've been lent long enough now. Either give me the food or sell yourself."
"Choose."
Chen Qiao collapsed, tears streaming uncontrollably.
"Tian Xiuhua, are you really going to force us into a desperate situation?"
"Oh, you're right not to return the food."
"Big brother, second brother, take this bitch away!"
In the nick of time, Su Wen and Su Wu felt a sharp pain in their backs before being knocked to the ground.
"Ouch!"
"Which beast dares to attack us!"
Ye Ming roared.
"I'll see who dares to touch my mother-in-law!"
"Mom!"
"Xiaorong!"
"Mom is my sister!"
The moment Su Xiaorong saw Chen Qiao, she rushed over and hugged her tightly.
"Xiaorong, why are you back? Hurry up and leave! This isn't a place for you."
"Take your brother away!"
Chen Qiao said anxiously.
"Don't worry, Mom. With my husband here, Auntie and the others can't do anything to you."
With that, Su Xiaorong used her small body to protect Chen Qiao and her brother.
"Where did you come from, you little bastard? I advise you to stay out of other people's business!"
Tian Xiuhua hadn't expected someone to suddenly come and cause trouble.
They even beat up her two sons.
Su Wen and Su Wu, who had just been ambushed by Ye Ming, were furious.
After getting up from the ground, they surrounded Ye Ming.
"What are you talking about, mother? He dared to hit us. Don't even think about leaving safely today."
"Little brother, let's go!"
Su Wen ordered, and Su Wu followed.
"Hehe, you overestimate your abilities."
In the blink of an eye, the two brothers were knocked to the ground again.
"You, you, you, who are you?"
"I advise you not to meddle in other people's business. This is Sujia Village."
"I don't care about you hitting my son. If you know what's good for you, get out of here now."
"If I shout, you won't leave this village today!"
Ye Ming sneered.
"I'll take care of this matter today."
"And didn't you hear just now? I'm her son-in-law."
"Do you think I'll take care of this matter?"
Tian Xiuhua's face was full of surprise. She stammered, "Are you that idiot Ye Ming from Qingshi Village?"
Ye Ming nodded his chin slightly in confirmation.
"How could you be that idiot? I know that idiot. He can only cry like a bastard."
"You are not Ye Ming. You must be the slut that loses money!"
Before Su Xiaorong could explain, Ye Ming slapped Tian Xiuhua.
"How dare you talk like that?"
"You are the slut."
The slap made Tian Xiuhua's face burn.
"How dare you hit me?"
"Okay, you are still polite if you don't pay the food you owe, right?"
Seeing that Tian Xiuhua was about to call for help, Ye Ming interrupted decisively.
"We didn't say we won't pay it back. My mother-in-law owes you so much food, and I will pay it back for her."