RWNEFE -Chapter 98 Shen Yuanruan Stirs Trouble

Shen Yuanqing’s little face immediately turned bright red. Big Sister was still the same as before, always loving to pinch his cheeks. Since leaving the capital, he felt like she had become a completely different person, and he hadn’t dared to get close. Now, suddenly having his cheeks pinched again—though it was embarrassing—somehow also felt strangely warm and affectionate.

“Big Brother, I’m a big kid now. You can’t just pinch my face whenever you want!” Shen Yuanqing struggled.

Shen Lanxi released his cheeks, smiling: “Fine. You’re a big kid… though I wonder which big kid wet the bed the night before my wedding.”

Shen Yuanqing’s face blazed red again as he angrily protested: “I didn’t!”

Hearing his elder sister teasing the younger brother so casually, Shen Yuanjing’s mood lightened considerably.

“Didn’t? Didn’t you secretly pour tea over it so no one would find out? And then, accidentally, the whole pot of tea spilled over, and it was carried off from my room!”

Shen Yuanqing’s face burned with shame.

“I’m not talking to you anymore!” He stomped off with his little legs, embarrassed and furious.

Shen Lanxi composed herself, refocusing her mind: “Time to practice martial arts!”

The Wei family troops were training on the second deck, each punch and movement full of strength and vigor. Shen Yuanjing brought his siblings to follow along.

The exiled prisoners fishing on the first deck kept sneaking glances up at them.

The Shen family also emerged from the lower cabins. Staying down there any longer would have meant getting beaten by other prisoners. Moreover, the cabins reeked of sour, vomit-stained filth, which no one had cleaned. Staying there any longer would make them sick—or even make them vomit themselves to death.

“Where’s Lanxi?” Madam Liu muttered softly.

“Master, do you think Lanxi went to the back ship?”

Shen Conglian didn’t pay much attention: “Who knows? Instead of worrying about others, why not focus on catching fish?”

Madam Liu curled her lips and silently cursed Shen Conglian as a big fool, then went to find her son.

“Grandmother, we’re here in the sun and wind. Why isn’t Big Sister helping us?” Shen Yuanruan approached Grandmother Shen.

Grandmother Shen, scowling, slapped her across the face.

“Shut up! You have no right to speak here.”

Shen Yuanruan turned pale, shrinking back in fear.

“You useless fool, don’t think I don’t know what you’re scheming. You’ve done shameful things, so behave yourself. Once we reach Dongchuan, we’ll see how I deal with you!” Grandmother Shen glared fiercely in Shen Yuanruan’s direction.

“Second daughter-in-law, bring a basin of water for me to wash!”

“Third daughter-in-law, wash my clothes, shoes, and socks!”

“Fourth daughter-in-law, clean out our resting area in the lower cabin!”

“You are all worthless! Only know how to pester men. If you hinder the men while fishing, see how I deal with you!”

Grandmother Shen drew on the verbal skills she had honed years ago in village disputes, scolding all three daughters-in-law in turn.

Madam Liu, Madam Miao, and Madam Tian all dared not respond, quickly carrying out her orders.

Glancing at the second deck where martial arts practice was underway, Grandmother Shen saw Madam Liu and the others trying to grab the eldest branch’s children’s fishing tools. She wouldn’t intervene herself; the eldest branch still had Lanxi. Even if others starved, they wouldn’t.

The other three branches had no choice but to rely on themselves to grab food.

The only problem was the children couldn’t hold onto what they had, so others took it. Once they reached Dongchuan, she would compensate the eldest branch further.

Fishing at sea wasn’t easy. By nightfall, only a few experienced fishers had decent meals. Others could only watch enviously.

Liu Yanhui spent the entire afternoon with Wei Dongzhu deciding who would go to Tongluo Island and also establishing a reward system for merit.

During mealtime, the constables read it aloud for the prisoners.

On the surface, both ships answered to Liu Laohu. Any announcements required him to be present.

“After another day or two of sailing, we’ll reach the Jiaodong Islands. Pirates and bandits are rampant there; no passing ship goes unrobbed!”

The prisoners stared blankly, not understanding why the constable was saying this now.

“There are two paths. One is by land, but with the plague outbreak and refugee uprisings, landing is a death sentence!”

The words “plague” and “uprising” caused a stir among the prisoners.

“The other way is by sea. If we meet pirates, we must fight for our lives. Only then do we have a chance!”

The rowdy prisoners fell silent.

Fight for their lives? How? They were just flesh and blood, not shields. Facing pirates who killed without hesitation meant only getting cut.

The constable continued: “Mr. Liu has a plan. Let him explain.” Escorting prisoners was easy; this was much harder, and he nearly stammered.

Liu Yanhui spread out a sheet of paper on the deck.

“Along the way, we’ve fought mountain bandits and clashed with refugees—we’re experienced fighters now!”

“Mountain bandits are bandits, and so are pirates. What mountain bandits can do, pirates can too!”

The prisoners’ eyes widened.

Liu Yanhui outlined the plan of sending sheep into the tiger’s den and then pointed at the sheet with a bamboo stick:

“Kill one pirate, earn one tael of silver!”

He moved the stick down a line:

“All spoils belong to you personally! No need to hand them over!”

Continuing down:

“Kill a minor pirate leader, earn 20 taels. Kill a major leader, earn 50 taels. And so on—the bigger the leader, the higher the reward. If anyone can slay a pirate chieftain, the reward is 1,000 taels!”

“I can kill!”

All the prisoners turned toward the voice—it was Lady Song.

“What are you looking at? I used to be a butcher!”

The prisoners: “…a fearless woman!”

Liu Yanhui smiled: “Everyone who participates, register with me. Over the next two days, meals can be bought on credit by those who join the fight. After defeating the pirates, debts will be settled.”

A few prisoners, who were hopeless at fishing and hadn’t caught even a single seaweed, perked up.

“I’ll join the fight.”

“Me too!”

“Mr. Liu, if I sign up, can I get food from the kitchen?”

“…Yes!”

In an instant, over half of the prisoners signed up, with Lady Song rushing to be first.

Liu Yanhui, who had been somewhat critical of Lady Song, began to view her differently.

On the Shen family side, discussions continued.

“Father, I still owe ten taels. My fishing rod was taken. If I don’t fight, when can I repay the ten taels?” Once, a single tea house visit cost dozens of taels; now he had to bend over for ten.

Shen Congwen looked worried: “Yuanjing, you know pirates kill without blinking. Even the court can’t stop them. Going means certain death!”