Zhao Qianjin fell silent for a moment. “Whatever is on that mountain, discovering it would be a great merit.”

“This is largely thanks to Young Ye. By telling us to report it to the authorities, he’s handing the credit to us.”

“Though there may not be any tangible reward, this is an honor, and everyone should remember his kindness.”

The dazed crowd suddenly snapped to attention, their hearts swelling with emotion.

In these times, the word “honor” was the highest form of recognition.

With such a reputation, one could even have an advantage when looking for work.

Ye Zhoushan hurried straight to Old Master Ye’s room in the ancestral house.

Old Master Ye was nearly eighty years old—a remarkable age in an era where the average lifespan was only fifty or sixty.

With many children and grandchildren to care for him, his life wasn’t much different from that of a landowner in the old days, aside from the poorer quality of food.

“Grandpa, my wife is injured and in the hospital. I need money. Can you give me some?”

Though advanced in years, Old Master Ye was sharp-eyed, clear-headed, and in good health.

He wasn’t familiar with all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but he knew Ye Zhoushan well.

He was the only grandson who showed no fear, boldly asking for things, daring to refuse his orders, and clever enough to handle matters since childhood.

Old Master Ye had once been quite fond of this grandson, but Ye Zhoushan had mingled too freely with the common folk.

In Old Master Ye’s heart, those commoners were the Ye family’s enemies.

His fondness for Ye Zhoushan had naturally diminished.

His gaze fell on his grandson, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time—tall, sturdy, with resolute features and an air of integrity that stood in stark contrast to the Ye family’s inherent shrewdness.

In the old days, this grandson could have brought glory to the family.

What a pity.

Money wasn’t an issue, but he had no intention of giving any.

“Zhoushan…”

“Grandpa,” Ye Zhoushan cut him off, not in the mood for the old man’s rambling. “Lend me two hundred, and I’ll pay you back four hundred.”

“Also, if the Ye family ever needs help in the future, I’ll step up.”

Old Master Ye was a miser. Even though Wu managed the household, all the money was tightly controlled by the old man.

Otherwise, the many children and grandchildren wouldn’t be so obedient, and Wu Shi, who was over a decade younger, wouldn’t have remained so compliant.

The shrewd Old Master Ye tapped his fingers on the table, calculating whether this deal was worth it.

Though anxious, Ye Zhoushan didn’t rush him.

“Zhoushan, you are still a member of the Ye family.”

“Your mother, who fancies herself the daughter of a scholar, thinks she’s educated and doesn’t even respect me, her father-in-law.”

“It was her decision to separate you from the family, not mine.”

“In my eyes, you will always be a descendant of the Ye family.”

Ye Zhoushan lowered his gaze. “As long as I bear the Ye name, I am part of the Ye family.”

Old Master Ye nodded in satisfaction. “Grandpa can give you the money. It’s the savings I’ve set aside for my coffin.”

“You know how it is—the Ye family is large, and with many people come many conflicting interests. I can’t rely on anyone else.”

“You’re the only one I trust.”

Ye Zhoushan raised an eyebrow noncommittally. “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I always keep my word. If needed, I can write you an IOU.”

Old Master Ye waved his hand magnanimously. “We’re family. No need for such formalities. I trust you.”

He reached under his pillow and pulled out a cloth bundle.

Inside were assorted bills, neatly adding up to exactly two hundred.

Ye Zhoushan pocketed the money without a word and listened to the old man’s perfunctory nagging for a few more minutes before finally leaving.

Just as he reached the door, he ran into his eldest sister-in-law, Xu Guizhi.

“Oh, Fourth Brother! I’ve been looking for you everywhere! Mother-in-law twisted her waist this morning and now she’s lying in bed, unable to move.”

“I suggested taking her to the commune health center, but she said the family has no money and refused to go.”

“You should go and talk to her. She listens to you the most.”

Suppressing his irritation, Ye Zhoushan turned and headed back.

Xu Guizhi was taken aback and quickly caught up to him. “Fourth Brother, have you been away so long that you’ve forgotten where our home is?”

“This way—that side is where the old master lives.”

Ye Zhoushan didn’t stop. “I know. I’m going to see Grandpa to ask him for money to treat Mother’s injury.”

“How can we not treat an injury? Don’t worry about the money. With such a large family, we can work harder and earn it back.”

In her panic, Xu Guizhi lost all tact. “No need to trouble the old master. Didn’t you just get some money? Use that to treat Mother’s injury.”

Ye Zhoushan halted abruptly, his icy gaze fixed on Xu Guizhi’s face. “Eldest Sister-in-Law, did you not leave the house today?”

Xu Guizhi was baffled by the question. “How could that be? I have to go out to work—I earn six work points every day. I haven’t been slacking off, Fourth Brother. Don’t say such things.”

Ye Zhoushan let out a cold laugh. “Then how dare you ask me for money?”

“Don’t you know this is the money to save my wife and child?”

His voice was cold, devoid of anger or malice, yet it sent a chill straight to Xu Guizhi’s bones.

“I… I…”

Ye Zhoushan said coldly, “Since Mother is injured, please take her to the commune, Eldest Sister-in-Law. If there’s not enough money, ask Grandpa. If she needs care, you and Second Sister-in-Law will have to manage. If it’s too much, call Third Sister back.”

With that, he turned and left without looking back.

Xu Guizhi, frozen as if in an icy cellar, suddenly felt the temperature around her rise several degrees. She glared at Ye Zhoushan’s retreating figure and spat twice. “What an unfilial son.”

She then turned to Zheng Juan to complain, exaggerating the story and painting Ye Zhoushan as an ungrateful beast led astray by a seductress.

Zheng Juan listened quietly without much reaction.

But beneath her lowered eyelids, her eyes were dark and ruthless. Truly, an ungrateful wolf that could never be tamed.

Ye Zhoushan returned home briefly. The house had been cleaned, but the smell of blood still lingered.

With a grim expression, he packed what he needed into a worn-out bundle and strode away.

At the village entrance, he encountered Zhao Weiguo waiting there.

Zhao Weiguo was Zhao Qianjin’s eldest son, a few years older than Ye Zhoushan.

“Brother Weiguo, is something wrong?”

Zhao Weiguo slung an arm over Ye Zhoushan’s shoulder. “Nothing much. My dad asked me to go to the county town with you to bring my grandmother and mother some clean clothes and help out with errands.”

“Don’t worry about the mountain matter. My dad has already sent word to the commune. The leaders will probably make arrangements.”

Ye Zhoushan didn’t ask further. “Alright, thanks for the trouble, Brother Weiguo.”

“Between brothers, no need for that.”

The two moved quickly, taking a shortcut without stopping. They reached the county town just as darkness fell.

At the hospital entrance, Ye Zhoushan heard his daughter’s voice.

【Daddy, Daddy, Mommy hurts. There are bad people. Baby is scared.】

Her little voice was weak and listless.

The man who had held himself together all this time felt his nose instantly redden.

Tears welled in his eyes as he rushed inside.

“Hey—” Zhao Weiguo was stunned for a moment before quickly following.

Ye Zhoushan ran frantically. As he hurried up the stairs, he didn’t notice a child coming down from above.

With one step, he accidentally sent the three- or four-year-old little one flying.

The child seemed stunned, wide-eyed and dazed.

Ye Zhoushan was startled and swiftly grabbed the flying child, pulling him back into his arms.

He patted the child’s back, relieved. “Sorry, sorry, Uncle didn’t mean to. Are you hurt? Scared?”

The child tilted his head and actually giggled. “Fly, fly again! Fly high! Cheng Cheng fly high!”

Ye Zhoushan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Zhao Weiguo caught up just then. “Zhoushan, whose child is this?”

Ye Zhoushan shook his head. “Not sure. Brother Weiguo, keep an eye on him and wait for his family here. I’ll go find Auntie and the others.”

He shoved the child into Zhao Weiguo’s arms and dashed upstairs again.

Zhao Weiguo and the little boy stared at each other, both unsure what to do.