The Comeback of the Charming Farmer's Wife

"Right, you said it!" Black Hair seemed very excited. "We can’t stay holed up here anymore; people around here are all scared of our thievery. We need to find someplace where the folks are a bit dafter so we can steal with ease."

"Exactly, just like Eldest said, it’s time to move."

"So where should we go first?" At this point, Black Hair was like someone who had found his backbone, eagerly gripping Ye Ziping while he asked.

Ye Ziping was also feeling a rush of excitement and said, "Eldest, let’s head to Lin County first. We’ll pull off a few jobs there, then gradually make our way south. When we get to Quanya County, we can stay a bit longer. I heard several towns there are really wealthy, with one even hosting a big academy. Everyone who can study there, are they not rich? There’s also a town that’s a gathering place for courtesans. Who would be poor if they can afford such a place? Once we get some money, we can even go enjoy ourselves with the beauties there, what do you say?"

"Great, great, that’s just perfect!" Upon hearing Ye Ziping’s plan, Black Hair’s heart nearly leaped out of his chest, dreaming of immediately flying to Quanya County to score a huge sum of silver, calling over a couple of beauties, one to pour wine and the other to serve dishes—what a delightful life that would be.

"This would need to be discussed with Eldest and the brothers; I wonder if anyone would object."

Upon hearing this, Black Hair gestured dismissively, "Oppose? Which fool would oppose this? This is for everyone’s good. All set— I will discuss it with them. You go ahead and leave."

Black Hair thought, how could he let a newcomer, especially a crafty one, have such a visible opportunity to win hearts?

Knowing what he was thinking, Ye Ziping obediently left. After all, there was plenty of time. He wasn’t in a hurry to become the leader right now; his priority was to avenge his family.

After Ye Ziping left, Black Hair pondered for a while, quickly gathered the brothers, and shared his thoughts. Everyone was pleased and in agreement.

After two more days, the group carried out their last theft in Quanyang County and began their grand journey southward.

The band was clever, not traveling together but in groups of six or seven. As Ye Ziping had described, they stole here and there along the way. Sometimes, when theft alone wasn’t satisfying enough, they even burglarized homes and committed rapes, truly showing no evil they wouldn’t do.

~~~~~

However, Yang Chuxia, far away in the Capital City, had yet to receive any news of the misdeeds Ye Ziping was engaged in. Ye Zi’an, who was also in the Capital City, hadn’t heard a thing either.

At the moment, he had just come out of the examination venue, looking utterly exhausted, yet still in good spirits.

"Young Master, over here!"

Seeing him come out, Li Wen eagerly waved his hand.

When Ye Zi’an saw Li Wen, along with Li Wu and Brother Li, he quickly advanced toward them.

"Young Master, let’s head back first."

Only after Ye Zi’an had boarded the carriage did the coachman, Brother Li, speak, "Mr. Luo and the others are waiting at home."

"Then let’s go back right away."

As he settled in, Li Wen hurriedly brought out a food box, "Young Master, please have some hot soup first. This is chicken soup with ginseng made by Auntie Li. There are some snacks too. You surely didn’t have good food inside, right?"

"It’s not as exaggerated as you think. Although the food inside wasn’t tasty, it was still bearable—much better than what I had when I was poor."

He remembered the first two years after being driven out by Ms.Hua Junior and the days when he had to survive on wild vegetable porridge. Later, it was Uncle Cai who brought him steamed buns.