inspire-indiana Chapter 175 Leaving without saying goodbye
Chapter 175 Leaving without saying goodbye
If Xiaodoukou had been a well-behaved, obedient, gentle, and modest woman, perhaps the story would have unfolded in completely different directions. However, fate is always full of drama and uncertainty. This girl named Xiaodoukou was stubborn by nature, with an indomitable spirit in her bones. Once she was determined to accomplish something, she would never give up, even if she suffered setbacks.
That day, over a trivial matter, Xiaodoukou was mercilessly reprimanded by Ye Beichen. Always proud and arrogant, she couldn't bear such humiliation, feeling utterly disgraced and unable to face anyone. In a fit of rage, she recklessly chose to run away from home.
Meanwhile, Ye Beichen was happily preparing to depart with Su Yuning. Just as they were about to embark on their journey, the manor's steward came running in, looking panicked and panting. Before he even stopped, he shouted impatiently, "Young Master! Something terrible has happened! The concubine...she's gone missing!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Beichen's previously relaxed brows instantly furrowed, and he impatiently rebuked her, "What is this woman up to now? Why is she always coming up with all sorts of tricks! What are you servants doing when someone goes missing? Why don't you go searching everywhere? Coming to me to complain, will that solve anything?"
The poor steward was so terrified by Ye Beichen's harsh scolding that he didn't dare to utter a sound, his head bowed so low it was almost touching the ground. Trembling, he extended his hands and respectfully presented a letter to Ye Beichen, then silently stepped back a few paces and stood quietly to the side, awaiting further instructions from the young lord.
At this moment, Su Yuning also came over and, together with Ye Beichen, unfolded the letter to read its contents. The letter read: "My husband, I have gone to a place no one can find to begin a new life. From now on, I will never set foot here again. I hope you will remember our past affection and make proper arrangements to care for our child. Do not worry, take care!"
"Where did my sister go? What happened to her?" Su Yuning asked anxiously, her brows furrowed and her eyes filled with deep concern. Ye Beichen, who was silently putting away the letter in his hand, shook his head slowly after hearing Su Yuning's question, indicating that he knew nothing about it.
Seeing Ye Beichen's reaction, Su Yuning became even more worried. After a moment's thought, she earnestly suggested to Ye Beichen, "Let's postpone our departure. At this point, finding my sister is the most important thing!" After saying that, she stared intently at Ye Beichen, hoping that he would agree to her idea.
Ye Beichen hesitated slightly upon hearing Su Yuning's words. He knew the importance of this trip, but he was also worried that Su Yuning would be too concerned about her sister. After some thought, he finally nodded and agreed to Su Yuning's suggestion.
Meanwhile, in Xinghua Village, the village chief's nephew was enthusiastically helping the Su couple import a batch of brand-new seeds, patiently and meticulously explaining to them the planting methods and various uses of these seeds.
The village chief's nephew picked up a packet of seeds and said to the Su couple, "These are lettuce seeds. Just plant them, and they'll sprout roots and grow tender green leaves in no time. And there are so many ways to eat lettuce leaves! You can eat them raw to enjoy their fresh, original flavor; you can also use them in salads with some seasonings—the taste is incredibly delicious; of course, stir-frying is also a good option, or you can use them in soups. But if you ask me, eating them raw is the best! That fresh, crisp feeling is truly unforgettable!" He couldn't help but show a look of delight as he spoke.
"Who would eat vegetable leaves raw? And where did you get these vegetable seeds?" Old Su asked curiously as he approached, his weathered face full of puzzlement. His eyes were fixed on the vegetable seeds in front of him, as if trying to find some clue.
Upon hearing this, the village chief's nephew, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but smile slightly, and then explained unhurriedly, "It's true that very few people here eat raw lettuce, but it's different over in Liaodong! Many people there are enthusiastic about growing and eating this vegetable. Its taste is particularly fresh and delicate, without any bitterness or spiciness. Moreover, many people like to use lettuce as a side dish for wraps, and the taste is simply wonderful! When this batch of vegetables grows up, you might as well try it yourself, and then you'll understand that what I'm saying is true."
At this moment, a kind-faced woman next to them also chimed in with a smile, "Child, are you planning to sell all this lettuce? Could this be Yu Ning's idea?" As she spoke, she looked at the village chief's nephew with gentle eyes, revealing a hint of concern.
The village chief's nephew nodded quickly and replied, "That's right, Auntie, that's indeed your daughter's idea. Some of the lettuce we grow will be kept for our own consumption, and the rest will be exported. This way, everyone can enjoy fresh and delicious lettuce, and the village can also generate some extra income. Isn't that a win-win situation?" As he finished speaking, a confident and radiant smile spread across his face.
Old Su and his wife exchanged a glance, then smiled knowingly and nodded in unison, indicating their complete agreement with what the village chief's nephew had said.
The village chief's nephew, with a smile, introduced, "This next one is the seed of bitter chrysanthemum. Bitter chrysanthemum is a vegetable that can be eaten raw. Its appearance is quite unique, unlike other common vegetables. And its taste has a slightly bitter flavor, but as long as you add a suitable amount of vinegar to season it, the taste is absolutely wonderful!"
However, upon hearing this, Old Su frowned and said with a puzzled look, "What's the use of growing these bitter-tasting vegetables? Who would want to eat something bitter? In my opinion, you should choose some vegetables with better taste. Don't just grow these useless ones."
Faced with Old Su's questioning, the village chief's nephew wasn't angry or impatient. Instead, he continued to explain patiently with a smile: "Uncle, you might not be familiar with the benefits of bitter chrysanthemum. Actually, bitter chrysanthemum has many powerful effects. For example, it has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, which can help us remove heat toxins from the body; it also helps lower blood sugar levels, which is very beneficial for those with high blood sugar; in addition, it can promote intestinal peristalsis, which can have a laxative and detoxifying effect. Whether it's adults or children, everyone likes to eat bitter chrysanthemum. Especially after bitter chrysanthemum is seasoned with vinegar, the bitterness basically disappears, so it is often used to make various cold dishes."
Old Su stubbornly waved his hand, muttering, "Oh well, forget it, don't bother with those useless things."
Seeing this, the woman standing nearby quickly smiled and explained to the village chief's nephew, "Child, please don't hold it against your uncle. He's just an old-fashioned man. But since Yu Ning recommended these vegetables, let's plant some of each kind!" The village chief's nephew nodded and smiled in agreement.
Then, the village chief's nephew introduced the various vegetable seeds in detail: "Here we have snow pea seeds, radish sprout seeds, cherry tomato seeds, bitter melon seeds, and celery seeds. Grandpa and Grandma, take a look and see which kinds you want. If you buy too many and can't use them all, you can return the leftover seeds, which will save you a lot of money." After saying that, he looked at the two elderly people in front of him with a smile.
After exchanging a glance, the woman smiled and replied, "Well... then please leave us half of each kind of seed. As for the price, just tell us, and I'll go inside and get the money for you."
Upon hearing this, the village chief's nephew immediately squatted down, took out his paper and pen, and carefully wrote and calculated on the ground. After a while, he looked up and said earnestly to the old couple, "Grandpa and Grandma, these seeds will cost a total of two taels of silver." Without a word, the woman turned and went into the house to get the money. Just then, Old Su, who hadn't said much until now, suddenly spoke up to the village chief's nephew: "Hey, you little rascal, do you think you can make any money selling these vegetable seeds? Why don't you find some other work?"
The village chief's nephew smiled faintly and replied softly, "Uncle, don't underestimate this part-time job. It's just a small part of my many tasks. Actually, I mainly help a good friend in town sell vegetable seeds! He's very good to me. He not only gives me a considerable commission, but also often invites me to enjoy delicious food."
Hearing this, Old Su's eyes widened, and he asked with great curiosity, "Oh my, who is this person? Why is he treating you so well?" The village chief's nephew hesitated for a moment, then said casually, "He's the famous big-time farmer in our town!" He then shrugged slightly, indicating that he did not want to talk about it anymore.
However, Old Su was clearly quite interested and continued to ask, "Since you have this part-time job, do you have any other regular income? Can this income support the whole family's expenses?" Faced with Old Su's barrage of questions, the village chief's nephew remained calm and explained methodically, "To be honest, Uncle, I currently have a job at a fairly large security escort agency in the capital. The pay there is quite good, with a stable salary and benefits every month. So, it's more than enough to support the whole family!"
Hearing this, Old Su nodded in satisfaction, a pleased smile spreading across his face. He then cheerfully asked, "Hmm, that sounds pretty good. So how many children do you have in your family now?" The village chief's nephew smiled and answered truthfully, "I have a son and a daughter, which makes a perfect family. We live a happy and fulfilling life!"
Old Su's wrinkled face broke into a kind smile. He gave a thumbs-up with a cheerful laugh and said in a loud, approving voice, "Not bad, not bad! Now you have a family and a home, so you'd better work hard to earn money and make your life prosperous!" Hearing this, the village chief's nephew couldn't help but smile happily, nodding repeatedly and replying, "Yes, yes, I'll remember that, thank you for your advice, Uncle Su!"
Just then, the woman came out of the house with light steps, carefully holding two gleaming silver ingots in her hands. She went straight to the village chief's nephew and gently handed them to him. Then, the woman warmly invited him, "Child, why don't you stay for lunch today? I'll go to the kitchen and cook some of my best dishes for you, and you can have a few drinks with your uncle, how about that?" However, the village chief's nephew smiled and waved his hand, politely declining, "No, no, Auntie, I appreciate your kindness. But my uncle and aunt have already prepared a meal and are waiting for me to go back, so I must go to their house to eat first."
Hearing this, the woman didn't insist, but simply replied with a smile, "Alright then, in that case, come visit us again when you have time!" The village chief's nephew quickly nodded with a smile and waved goodbye to the Su couple. Then, he turned and boarded the carriage, flicked the whip, and sped off towards the village chief's house.
At this very moment, a tense and intense atmosphere filled the once warm and peaceful house of the village chief, as a family conflict erupted fiercely. The village chief and his wife stood in the center of the room, berating their son, Tianshuo, with a torrent of words pouring down like a storm, leaving the poor boy utterly humiliated and unable to lift his head.