Chapter 2: The Evil Slave
Apologize! Ye Kong shouted loudly
At the end of the month, she was also short on funds, and after rummaging in her sleeve for quite a while, she finally fished out a small silver coin and handed it to Li Laosi.
He, upon arriving in your esteemed place, understands the need for discretion, recognizes that impulsiveness is a devil, and is aware that taking a step back can lead to broader horizons
"You think you can dismiss me with this little bit of silver?" Li Laosi said, throwing the small amount of silver in front of Chen Jiuniang, and scolded, "Tomorrow morning, I will report to the second lady, saying that you made a racket in the middle of the night, disturbing people's sleep, and I will have you expelled from the General's residence"
Happiness came too suddenly, and she could only express it with tears
"The child is truly better now, Mother is so happy." Chen Jiuniang said with tears in her eyes
Soon, Chen Jiuniang transformed from a servant into someone of even lower status than a servant. Previously, as a servant, she only engaged in embroidery for her master, but now even the household servants and maids brought her mending tasks. Even though Chen Jiuniang worked tirelessly and without complaint, she found herself embroidering late into the night every day, and still could not finish her work.
However, even if he is no longer foolish, he is still just a child. What difference does it make if he is not foolish? Li Laosi was surprised but not afraid, and he coldly laughed, "So you really are not foolish anymore, thinking of yourself as my superior. Be careful how you speak to me, or I might just knock the sense out of you again"
I am not an orphan or a widow; I have not deceived you yet! Li Laosi snorted coldly, weighing the silver in his hand, feeling somewhat dissatisfied, as this is rather too little
Chen Jiuniang is also a woman of unfortunate fate. From a young age, due to her unattractive appearance and her family's poverty, coupled with having many siblings, she has never experienced a good life.
The middle-aged man known as Lao Si scratched his head, puzzled, and asked, "Do we still have benefits?"
After Ye Kong finished beating Li Laosi, he felt much better. However, he then thought that Li Laosi would definitely go back to find someone for revenge, and being just a twelve-year-old boy, how could he possibly withstand the storm?
"Manager Li, please bear with me. Take this small amount of silver for now, consider it as a debt I owe you. I will repay you once the higher-ups release the monthly wages." Chen Jiuniang hurriedly picked up the silver and handed it to Li Laosi, while continuously bowing in gratitude.
"What a ghost! During the day, I have to look at your ghostly face, and at night, I have to endure your ghostly wails. That idiot can do nothing but eat pig feed, can he act normally?" Li Laosi showed no intention of letting the matter rest.
However, this woman is quite unfortunate. Her embroidery work was going well, but one afternoon, General Ye Haoran of Zhennan got drunk and somehow ended up in the embroidery room
Oh! Today, Li Laosi was taken aback by Ye Kong, thinking to himself that this kid has become quite articulate and his temper has improved. Could it be that he is no longer foolish?
Manager Li, rest assured, it will not happen again, and there will be no more gatherings of pictures and books. Chen Jiuniang repeatedly bowed in apology
In summary, this woman has had a very unfortunate life, having never truly experienced good days. She is not attractive and has given birth to a son with disabilities. In the courtyard, she has often faced disdain and bullying from others, with ridicule behind her back and scolding to her face being commonplace.
Clear and bright, yet there is a hint of cunning.
"Mother, please don't cry." Ye Kong said in a flustered manner; like most men, he was afraid of women crying, and he was no exception
After ten months of pregnancy, the plump and healthy Ye Kong was born, and Ye Haoran's mother was particularly fond of him
"I was blind to the situation, and I will never dare to do so again," Li Laosi said as he took out the silver ingot from his sleeve. However, he harbored deep resentment towards Ye Kong and his mother, thinking to himself that he would definitely inform the Second Madam later, so she could deal with them.
Upon hearing this, Lao Si understood and laughed, "It’s still the wife at home who is sharp. Let me go and extort her a good sum. Such an ugly woman, with a foolish son, what use is money to them? It would be better to get it and find a martial artist for our little third!"
Chen Jiuniang felt that her son was comforting her, wiped her tears, and smiled, saying, "Then Mother will wait for you to grow up and treat her."
I apologize, I apologize. At that moment, Li Laosi had already been knocked senseless by two bricks, feeling blood oozing from his head and face. Seeing Ye Kong about to bring down the brick again, he hurriedly clung to Ye Kong's leg and pleaded loudly, "Eighth Young Master, it is this old servant who has been blind. I beg the Eighth Young Master to spare this old servant's life."
The days cannot be described as good, but they are fulfilling
"Mother, rest assured, I will definitely cure the dark scar on your face," Ye Kong said with determination
However, for Chen Jiuniang, this was quite good; she had a separate courtyard, two maidservants at her disposal, and some loose silver coins. For a woman from an ordinary family, this was more than sufficient
Ye Kong strengthened his resolve. Since he has come here, he will work hard to achieve something; it is better to stand and die than to live on his knees! We cannot let the rogues of Earth lose face!
I will shout a couple of times to make them quiet down. The middle-aged man was about to push the window open
"How can this be? From now on, you are my mother. If anyone dares to look around again, I, Ye Kong, will definitely beat them so badly that their mother won't recognize them." Ye Kong said word by word.
"Yes, yes, two taels, Manager Li, please take care on your way." Chen Jiuniang let out a sigh of relief, but her heart was still troubled. With several days left until the monthly payment, she had not a single cent. How was she to endure the days ahead?
Ye's chest was aflame, with the fires of anger surging within, as if ready to burst forth at any moment
At first, Ye Haoran still helped out a bit for the sake of his son. However, as Ye Kong grew up, Ye Daren was astonished and perplexed to discover that this boy not only had a clumsy tongue but also a muddled mind. He became disappointed and from then on, no longer concerned himself with the plight of this unfortunate mother and son.
Chen Jiuniang's monthly silver was already barely sufficient due to deductions; she was reluctant to spend it, and in the end, it was all taken away by others.
Ye Kong seemed to have returned to Hanzheng Street, standing at an angle, weighing the brick in his hand, his eyes slightly squinted, his brows raised in a hint of disdain, and a trace of a cold smile on his face that suggested he had the upper hand over the other party
Manager Li, we, as a family of orphans and widows, have troubled you quite a bit; this is just a small token of appreciation
Chen Jiuniang had this thought, yet she could hardly believe it, so she hurriedly went to reassess her son. To her astonishment, she discovered that her son's smile was no longer as foolish as it used to be. Then she noticed his eyes.
Just as Ye Kong and Chen Jiuniang were having a heartfelt conversation under the moonlight, in the adjacent room, a man and a woman also drew back the curtains and lit an oil lamp
Only by making oneself stronger! Step on all those who bully you!
Although Chen Jiuniang's romantic life is completely empty, her work is quite successful. Skilled and unafraid of hard work, she gradually gained the recognition of the General's Mansion of Southern Town. The matriarch of the Ye family then invited Chen Jiuniang to come to the General's Mansion every day to do embroidery work, thus transitioning from a temporary worker to a formal employee
It was usually nothing for General Ye to engage with a woman, but unexpectedly this time, Chen Jiuniang became pregnant.
Ah! With a cry of despair, Li Laosi's legs went weak and he knelt down, shouting, "Don't hit me anymore, it will cost someone their life."
Listening to her son's fluent words, Chen Jiuniang was already in tears, overwhelmed with joy. These were tears of happiness, tears of bliss, tears of excitement
What is even more outrageous is that, fully aware that our family is already out of money, you still insist on scheduling next month's rent. Have you beasts ever considered how my child and I are supposed to live without any money? Must you drive us to the brink of despair?
"You silly child, speaking nonsense again. How can you hit someone just because others are watching?" Chen Jiuniang said with a laugh, playfully admonishing him
"Kong'er, don't!" Chen Jiuniang had never witnessed such a bloody brawl, and was so frightened that she hurried over to pull Ye Kong.
At that time, Lord Ye was young and accomplished, with remarkable military achievements. As the saying goes, a good appetite leads to a good mood, and a good mood enhances one's desires.
Wife, what are you looking at? A foolish son has left, and in his place, a clever, handsome, and charming one has come. Enjoy your secret delight!
Put down the silver and apologize to my mother! Otherwise, this door is easy to enter but difficult to exit
Not long after the good days, the old lady passed away, and the eldest lady had already passed away a few years earlier. The head of the household became the narrow-minded second lady
In fact, Ye Kong also felt a bit guilty, as he noticed Chen Jiuniang staring at him, which made him feel uneasy.
Thus, Chen Jiuniang, having reached the age of 18, remained unmarried, which could be considered as being of advanced age for a young person. Unable to find a husband, she could not simply stay at her parental home without contributing, so she occupied her time by helping others with sewing and needlework.
A middle-aged woman was lying diagonally in the bed, pulling a thin quilt to cover her pale backside, and she cursed, "Isn't it that female ghost next door with her foolish son?"
In three steps, he took two, and Lao Si rushed next door, shouting at Ye Kong and her daughter, who were just about to enter the house: "Hey! What are you all doing over there? Why are you howling in the middle of the night? Are you going to let anyone else sleep?"
At that moment, Chen Jiuniang was in the embroidery room, and coincidentally, Lord Ye saw this young lady from the right side.
Thus, Chen Jiuniang's maid was reassigned, the silver became increasingly scarce, and the embroidery work sent to her grew more and more. She gradually fell into the status of a servant
When Lord Ye wakes up and sees the woman's face in his arms, which resembles that of a car accident scene, his feelings of disgust are undoubtedly understandable
General Ye, with his eyes clouded by intoxication, took a look at the embroideress and found her appearance quite pleasing. In his drunken impulse, he felt no need to consider whether the young lady was willing or not, and he dragged Chen Jiuniang towards the bed, believing that it was better to act first and discuss the reasoning later.
But Old Li Si did not see the silver, so he naturally would not calm down. He shouted again, "Do you think it's easy for me? I got up in the middle of the night to keep watch, and just as I fell asleep, you woke me up! I only took a few taels of wages!"
Thus, Chen Jiuniang's fortunes turned, and she officially moved into the Ye family. Of course, her status was certainly not comparable; being one of three wives or four concubines could not be applied to her. Moreover, she was not favored at all; whenever Ye Haoran saw her, he felt a chill run down his spine, and any needs he had quickly vanished.
Ah, Lao Si!" Suddenly, the middle-aged woman jumped down from the bed without a shred of modesty, grabbed the man's arm, and laughed, "You fool, by shouting like that, they may quiet down, but what benefits do we gain from it?
"As long as you are happy, as long as you are happy." Ye Kong suddenly felt a tingling sensation in his nose, extending his small hand to wipe away the tears on Chen Jiuniang's face, not shying away from the dark red scar.
Bang! A brick landed squarely on Li Laosi's face, causing him to cry out in pain, blood streaming from his nose. Startled, Li Laosi quickly crouched down and pinched his nose.
Ye Kong quickly found this person in the inherited memories. Li Laosi, the manager of the guesthouse, lived next door and often bullied the mother and daughter, relying on the fact that he was a distant relative of the second madam.
Chen Jiuniang does not want her son to delay his future in order to treat her face, as it was acceptable when he was foolish in the past, but now that he is no longer foolish, he must always engage in literary studies and martial arts training
Of course, Ye Kong did not say this out loud. He quickly smiled and said, "Mother, do you think that today’s Kong is different from before? Hehe, you don’t need to worry, your son is still your son, no doubt about it. As for why I seem different, it’s because I had a dream last night. An old man with a white beard told me that from today on, I wouldn’t be foolish anymore... So, my mind became clearer. Hey, Mother, please don’t cry!" As for why I seem different, it’s because I had a dream last night. An old man with a white beard told me that from today on, I wouldn’t be foolish anymore... So, my mind became clearer. Hey, Mother, please don’t cry!
But who would have thought that the heavens would open their eyes, and the son would wake up from his sleep no longer foolish
"Wife, just wait!" The man known as the Fourth Brother reached under his wife once more before stepping out the door
Chen Jiuniang became anxious; she and her son had no support, and the world was harsh. If they left the general's residence, their situation would only become more miserable, which was her greatest concern. The crucial point was that she truly had no money left in her hands
It is not in his character to endure humiliation in silence! Bowing down and acting submissively is not something he would do! If he endures any longer, he will become a ninja turtle!
Although her face is unattractive, her hands are skilled, and she excels at needlework, particularly in embroidery, which she does exceptionally well, creating lifelike pieces.
Chen Jiuniang sighed, "Alas, Kong'er, what will happen if you provoke the general? You have caused trouble for your mother."
"Isn't it better to say this earlier to avoid getting beaten? The servant just doesn't know better." Ye Kong cruelly laughed as he struck Li Laosi's mouth with a brick, a sight that truly made Li Laosi feel the terror of the other party
This is too much! Even if one is a rogue or a scoundrel, it is not this excessive! Just because someone shouted once at night and cried a little, they are being extorted. Is there any justice in this world?
This man is a yellow-faced fellow in his forties. He is holding up his pants and muttering angrily, "Who is crying and wailing in the middle of the night? Damn it, I just got back at three in the morning, and I can't even have a moment of peace with my wife!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Jiuniang understood that this was an attempt at extortion. It was unreasonable to demand such a sum of money, but as a single mother with no support, she had no choice but to spend money to avert disaster
I seem to see a tragedy unfolding, with no joy in the play...
Li Laosi achieved his goal and, feeling quite pleased with himself, turned to leave. However, as he turned his head, he saw Ye Kong, who usually appeared dazed and absent-minded, standing at the gate with a brick in hand.
Chen Jiuniang was taken aback; her son seemed to have truly become sensible! Yet, why did he give off a sense of unfamiliarity?
Ye Kong looked up and saw a man resembling a servant walking in from outside the courtyard. He appeared to be in his forties, his clothes disheveled, and he looked as if he had just crawled out of bed.
"Kong'er, just forget it, let it go, Mother is afraid." Chen Jiuniang once again embraced Ye Kong's arm, fearing that he might act recklessly and cause a fatality.
No matter how skilled or kind a woman is, if she looks like this, no one will want her. On the Southern Continent, there are no cosmetic surgery hospitals; with this appearance, even offering a beggar two hundred coins would not elicit a response from him
But who knows, Ye Kong's specialty is hitting people with a brick. Those who have been struck by his brick number at least eight hundred, if not a thousand. There is simply no notion of holding back; he strikes without a second thought.
"It is also acceptable not to grow up." Ye Kong believes that there is nothing difficult in the world, only those who are determined.
Oh, it is Manager Li. I apologize, I apologize. I just regained my senses and couldn't help but shout out in joy. I truly am sorry.
"Get lost!" With this remark from Ye Kong, Li Laosi covered his head and face, no longer daring to look back, and fled in a panic.
She smiled and said, "This matter is not urgent; after all, Mother has already become accustomed to being seen by others"
Ye Kong finished speaking with a grimace, pushed aside Chen Jiuniang, and aimed a round brick at Li Laosi, who was squatting on the ground, striking him on the forehead with another brick.
The middle-aged woman pushed the man forcefully and scolded, "Why are you so foolish? The steward Ye Cai embezzles her money every month, and Sister Ma from the kitchen extorts her from time to time, yet you are the only idiot!"
"That is what they deserve!" Ye Kong said, laughing as he spoke. He then supported Chen Jiuniang and said, "Mother, let us go back to the room and have a chat. In the past, I was ignorant and did not study, and there are many things I do not understand. I would like to seek your guidance on a few matters."
The fourth wife's eyes lit up upon seeing the man come to his senses, and she laughed, "You deadbeat have finally woken up. Hurry back, I haven't had enough to eat yet"
Mother, a good horse can be ridden by others, and a good person can be bullied by others. The more you are weak and easily deceived, the more these wicked people will take advantage of you. Hehe, I want them to understand that from now on, there will be another unyielding villain in this courtyard
"Are you thinking of reporting to your master?" Such trivial thoughts could hardly escape Ye Kong's notice. With a glance, he declared, "Let me tell you, I am not afraid. Do you know what I used to do? I was a rogue! Whoever provokes me, I will fight them to the death! Remember! Even if I am down on my luck, I still carry the surname Ye! If you want to teach me a lesson, it will only be possible if the Ye family is completely wiped out!"
"This is more like it." Old Li Si put away the silver coins and grunted fiercely, "Two taels!"
Chen Jiuniang felt an immense joy in her heart as she listened to her son speak more and more fluently, with an eloquent style that was quite refined
Li Laosi initially thought that this child was merely posturing with a brick and would not dare to actually strike. This fool used to cry out that the little chickens were so pitiful when he saw someone kill a chicken; could he really bring himself to hit someone with a brick?