RWNEFE -Chapter 73 Hot Soup!

Her voice—crisp and sweet like a yellow oriole—pulled Wu Youliang’s wandering gaze back to Shen Yuanruan.

Wu Youliang first glanced at her eyes, then let his gaze roam downward without the slightest restraint—from the gentle swell of her chest to her slender, pinched waist. Thinking of how tender and smooth her hands and face had felt the day before, like tofu, he hurriedly wiped the saliva from the corner of his mouth.

“Sister Ruan, come here quickly—sit with your brother and rest for a bit~” Wu Youliang leered as he patted his thigh.

A flash of disgust crossed Shen Yuanruan’s eyes, but her face remained wreathed in a sweet smile.

“That won’t do. My family is eating over there—if they saw us, it wouldn’t be good.”

Thinking of his shriveled money pouch, Wu Youliang grew eager to get this tender morsel into his hands.

“These days you’ve been following me—your family must have already given tacit approval to our relationship. Once we reach Dongchuan, I’ll write home to the capital and have them send more silver. Then I’ll buy a big house, hire a few servants, and marry you as my proper wife!”

Shen Yuanruan’s eyes flickered. She immediately put on a shy, bashful act and edged forward two steps.

“Brother Wu, everyone’s eating—when are you going to buy some food?”

Wu Youliang’s gaze darted away for a moment. He quickly said, “I’ve eaten too much rich food lately and got a bit overheated. I’ll skip this meal to clear my stomach.”

Hungry, Shen Yuanruan cursed him silently. Rich food? He hadn’t even eaten as well as her servants had back in the capital.

“Brother Wu, go buy me some hot soup. I’ll drink it like hot water.”

Wu Youliang hesitated, then said, “Alright. Wait here.”

Seeing that he really went, Shen Yuanruan immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Since he’d gone, he’d surely be embarrassed to buy only soup. She had suspected he was out of money, but now it seemed he still had some.

Wu Youliang went straight to the escorts and instantly put on a different face, bowing obsequiously.

“Sir, there’s still some hot soup left in the pot—could you ladle out a bowl?”

Without lifting his head, Liu Laohu replied, “Two taels of silver!”

Wu Youliang smacked his lips. “I just want the soup—no vegetables inside!”

“I’m talking about the soup price. If you want vegetables, it’s five taels!” Liu Laohu had long disliked Wu Youliang. Back when they left the capital, no one had come to see this fellow off—who knew where his silver even came from? Lazy and useless, doing nothing all day, yet wanting free soup—who gave him the nerve? Before, Liu Laohu had only tolerated him for the sake of silver.

Wu Youliang seethed inwardly but didn’t dare show it. He had only a few taels of broken silver left. If he spent it all on soup, he’d have no money to ride the cart tomorrow.

“Are you buying or not? If not, get lost!” Liu Laohu barked impatiently.

Thinking of that sickeningly sweet Brother Wu, Wu Youliang finally grit his teeth and paid.

Just wait. My silver won’t be spent for nothing.

Shen Yuanruan waited and waited, until at last Wu Youliang returned. She stepped forward happily, expecting a hearty meal—only to see a single bowl of clear soup with two floating scallion bits.

Where was the meat? The vegetables? The buns?

She had seen the women cutting lots of salted meat into the pot—how could there not be even a strip of it?

Wu Youliang, as if he hadn’t noticed her darkening expression, said, “I was late—this was all that was left. Didn’t you say you wanted hot soup? It’s still hot. Drink it quickly.”

Shen Yuanruan was livid. When she said hot soup, she hadn’t meant literally drinking plain soup. But since he’d already brought it back, she couldn’t explain. She could only scowl, carry the bowl aside, and drink it without sparing Wu Youliang a glance.

Watching her back, a sinister glint flashed in Wu Youliang’s eyes. When he had money, he was treated like a lord; when he didn’t, she wouldn’t even look at him. What noble lady? Just a whore sold in the brothels.

Because Liu Yanhui had traded grain for vegetables, the villagers were grateful and cleared out a few rooms for them.

After discussing with Shen Lanxi, Liu Yanhui arranged a separate courtyard for her, with another courtyard in between her place and where the prisoners stayed. Minor noise from the prisoners wouldn’t reach her; if anything urgent happened, one shout would be enough for Shen Lanxi to hear.

Shen Lanxi appropriately delegated more authority to Liu Yanhui—chiefly by having Chunxue formally greet Liu Laohu and announce that Liu Yanhui had been hired as the accountant.

The key point was made clear: if anything needed purchasing, go to Liu Yanhui for the money.

Strictly speaking, it didn’t need to be spelled out—but she worried Liu Laohu might not understand.

With this alone, Liu Yanhui’s freedom among the prisoners would be second only to Liu Laohu.

Thinking of their departure the next morning, Nanny Li led her family in making extra cakes. With most of the Shen family now practicing martial arts, cake consumption was high.

That night, Wu Youliang shot Shen Yuanruan several meaningful looks. She pretended not to understand any of them, which angered Wu Youliang so much that he cursed under his breath and stormed out.

“Little bitch—sooner or later I’ll get you in my hands, cheap thing…”

All the prisoners slept in one courtyard. When Wu Youliang went out, everyone assumed he was relieving himself and paid no attention.

Reaching a corner, Wu Youliang immediately hid and peeked back.

Seeing no one following him, the idea of sneaking away suddenly arose.

Then he reconsidered. No—forget household registrations; with disasters everywhere, where could he even run? Following the prisoners at least guaranteed a black steamed bun per meal.

Besides, what if he ran into cannibal refugees? With the weight he’d put on along the way, he’d look like pure fat to starving eyes.

He couldn’t run. He had to find a way to get money! With money, he could still eat well and live well!

Having made up his mind, Wu Youliang now saw Gulan Village as a treasure trove.

Late at night, all was silent. Exhausted from a long day, the villagers had gone to bed early.

Wu Youliang felt his chance had come. Using the excuse of relieving himself, he slipped quietly into Gulan Village.

After rummaging through five or six houses, he found only a few copper coins in three of them, plus a darkened silver hairpin. Disappointed, he was about to try one more house and then leave when he suddenly heard a noise from a chicken coop.

His eyes lit up. He immediately slipped in and left with a fat chicken in each hand.

He had already wrung their necks. Having eaten nothing for dinner, his stomach was burning with hunger. He didn’t bother searching any further, but found a dilapidated, unoccupied house and started a fire to butcher the chickens.

Experienced, he coated the chickens in mud and buried them over low embers—no open flames, no smell escaping. Even someone with a keen nose next door wouldn’t detect it.

Two fat chickens were enough for a hearty feast. After eating his fill, he could return, sleep soundly, and ride the cart again tomorrow!

The more Wu Youliang thought about it, the happier he became—so happy he didn’t notice a blaze flaring up behind him. Only when the heat scorched his back did he turn around.

He nearly lost his soul in fright.

“Fire! There’s a fire—come put it out!”

The villagers quickly came out, each carrying a bucket of water—but none hurried to fight the flames.

They were stopped by the village head.

“Many places are short of water right now. Ours isn’t severe, but we still can’t waste it.”

“That house has been unoccupied for a long time. There’s not much inside to burn. There’s no wind, and it won’t spread to other houses. Don’t put it out—save the water.”