Chapter 56: Stolen Supplies
One wagon cart had the first branch’s items, which consisted of their clothes, kitchen utensils, and a lot of other things.
If these things were taken away, people with zero money like them now absolutely had nothing except for the clothes they were currently wearing.
That was why Old Madam Ye and Zheng Huizhen were so hysterical about it. Ye Mingyuan also had a fierce, indignant look on his face.
The first branch’s only daughter, Ye Ruxue, was hugging her mother, also crying. All of her items were inside the wagon cart that the bandits had stolen away.
Just thinking that she only had her current clothes left her to the brink of collapse.
Ye Lingyue’s mouth twitched. If anyone didn’t know better, they would have thought that it was their second branch who had bullied the first branch!
"Mother, Eldest sister-in-law, how can you put it like that?" Shen Jingyi shook her head. "We thought that Eldest brother-in-law had already taken care of it."
Zheng Huizhen immediately retorted angrily. "We haven’t taken care of it! You already took care of yours, why didn’t you take our first branch’s wagon cart with you too?"
Her words were full of such righteousness that the imperial guards couldn’t help but cast a look of pity on the second branch.
They thought that with such family members, the former Minister of Rites’ life in exile would even be more difficult.
Shen Jingyi was also helpless dealing with both her unreasonable mother-in-law and eldest sister-in-law. After all, they weren’t like this before, so uncooperative!
If only this matter can be solved with fist...
Ye Chengde stepped forward to protect his wife.
"Mother, eldest sister-in-law, we have agreed to take care of our things ourselves. My wife and I were already full trying to protect our own wagon cart," Ye Chengde said a little sternly.
Old Madam Ye could only point at Ye Chengde with trembling fingers. "Good, good! You are a bunch of selfish and unfilial children!"
At this time, Ye Lingyue suddenly tugged on Ye Zhiqiu’s sleeve and asked innocently. "Eldest brother, what does selfish mean?"
Ye Lanxi sneered from the side. "Selfish means you care only for yourself and always put your own needs first before others."
She nodded as though she understood. Then, a look of confusion flashed on her face. "Selfish? We are selfish... selfish people don’t share..."
"That’s right!" Ye Lingrui took this chance to extend his evil claw and ruffle her hair. Ye Lingyue’s temples twitched...
"So, if Yue’er doesn’t want to share her food, she doesn’t need to," He continued.
In order to make the first branch shut up and stop bothering them, they had to share some roasted meat so that they could have a peaceful meal.
Most of the roasted meat they gave them would always go to Old Madam Ye, Zheng Huizhen, and Ye Mingyuan. So, when they heard the siblings’ conversation, they were startled.
Ye Lingyue nodded, showing a face filled with half confusion and half understanding. "Yue’er won’t share anymore! Selfish!"
The expression from the first branch family members became dark.
Ye Ruxue tugged at Old Madam Ye, and the latter jolted, suddenly softening her stance.
"You are all misunderstood... Chengde, our things have been stolen, how about you share some of your items with us? We only have the clothes we are currently wearing." Old Madam Ye sighed.
It was Shen Jingyi who answered. "Mother, we can still give you some clothes and share other things."
After all, Old Madam Ye was still their elder.
Ye Shichang suddenly appeared and spoke. "We will find the imperial guards and ask if we can still recover our wagon cart first. After all, it’s my fault..."
The nearby imperial guards stiffened when they heard it, so they slowly walked away from the scene, pretending to be busy.
Old Madam Ye immediately defended him. "How can it be your fault only? We are family, so we are supposed to protect and support each other!"
She lectured them for a bit until Ye Shichang brought his family away, his eyes somewhat flashed a little smugly.
Ye Lingyue furrowed her brows. This Ye Shichang definitely was so good at coaxing Old Madam Ye that she favored him more than her own biological son.
In the end, Ye Shichang did go to the imperial guards to ask about the probability of recovering the stolen wagon carts.
Lin Su glanced at him. "We are still trying to do that. We already sent some of our people to chase after them, but... don’t put too much hope."
These people were good at hiding. Being locals gave them the advantage of understanding the surrounding terrains, and hence, the imperial guards might be unable to find them.
On the other side, Commander Leng was also interrogating the bandit leader.
"Where is your hideout?" He asked firmly, gripping the whip in his hand.
The bandit leader had just recovered his consciousness. He sneered. "Why would I tell you?"
After he and his lackeys were captured, how would these people dare to return to their hideout anyway? They were well aware what kind of people the bandit leader and his lackeys were.
They merely followed them because they had no choice.
If they return, the bandit leader definitely would leak out the location.
"Commander Leng, how about we negotiate?" The bandit leader asked, trying hard to stay calm despite the pain. "I will give you their location and you will release me."
He knew very well what these people currently needed the most.
Supplies.
Further ahead, the condition was still the same, even worse. Many people were dying and had nothing to eat. Where could the imperial guards get supplies then?
The wagon carts filled with supplies were their best bet.
"How about it?" The bandit leader raised his eyebrows. His voice was akin to a devil’s whisper. "Commander Leng, are you willing to let your people starve to death before they can even reach the destination?"
P.S Pls read the author’s note.