Chapter 1590 - 1579: Honest Fool

Chapter 1590: Chapter 1579: Honest Fool

Ever since Ye Qiu and Jia Zhihe started the World of Fishing, the business has been bustling. Not only is it popular in Anquan County, but people from nearby counties also consider it an honor to have a meal there.

Seeing the success of his business, some have tried to imitate it, but whether it’s due to the recipe or the business model, people just feel that it’s not as good as the World of Fishing. In fact, business at the World of Fishing has only gotten better.

At the end of the year, the accountant tallied the earnings for both families, and Jia Zhihe found that the dividends for the past six months were actually higher than the annual income from his family’s grocery store. He became even closer to Ye Qiu, who had originally suggested the idea.

Their neighbor happened to want to sell their house and move to the provincial city, so Jia Zhihe eagerly negotiated a reasonable price for Ye Qiu. As a result, Ye Qiu and Niu Xue Mei finally moved into their new home before the end of the year.

Looking at the neat green bricks and the spacious inner quarters, Niu Xue Mei couldn’t calm her excitement. Thinking about the unfair treatment she had endured, and seeing this newly purchased two-courtyard house, she felt as if she had let out a huge sigh of relief.

Those who used to look down on her are now inferior to her, and those who used to bully her are no longer better than her. She no longer has any relation to that family.

Considering her current life and thinking about the sacrifices of the past, she felt like she had been a fool back then. Some people’s appetites are insatiable by nature, and the only way out is to leave early.

So what if she doesn’t have a son? She has a husband who loves her dearly, two adorable and sensible daughters, and a continuous stream of money flowing into her pockets. In the future, she will have the capital to slowly choose sons-in-law for her two daughters.

Niu Xue Mei finished organizing the account books and opened the door to see her husband practicing martial arts with their two daughters. She smiled happily.

However, she absolutely couldn’t foresee that fate would play another trick on her. After the new year began, the Xin Country invaded from the north, and Lan Country’s forces were insufficient. In just two months, two cities were lost. The court issued an order that any farming household with healthy males aged fourteen or older must send one to enlist.

Upon hearing this news, Niu Xue Mei felt as if the sky had fallen, constantly shedding tears.

"Don’t cry anymore. It’s just going to the military camp. I promise you I’ll be careful and come back safely," Ye Qiu softly comforted.

Next to him, Jia Zhihe paced back and forth. As a merchant, he didn’t need to enlist; he only needed to pay a certain amount of silver coins. But with the business he shares with Ye Qiu still ongoing, he was truly flustered if Ye Qiu had to enlist.

"Don’t worry, I’ll go out and see if I can send some money to replace the spot."

"It’s useless." Ye Qiu shook his head, "It’s different this time. Among the guests who came to dine were members of the county government. I’ve asked them, and this time, unless someone is physically ill, money can’t buy a spot. The northern battles are critical, and I’ve heard the Holy Emperor is furious. No one dares to mess around at this time."

Upon hearing this, Niu Xue Mei’s tears flowed even more fiercely. Since the situation is so critical, isn’t Ye Qiu even more in danger?

"Rest assured, since childhood I’ve been strong, and I’ve been training daily these days. I can definitely protect myself." Ye Qiu said with conviction that inspired trust.

"Brother-in-law, in the days I’m not home, please take care of the World of Fishing more often. After I leave, you and Second Sister can have an extra twenty percent of the shop’s profits."

"How could that be?" Jia Zhihe immediately rejected, "It’s just a little extra look after, what’s the big deal? How can I take your profits?"

"Exactly, you’ve contributed so much to this shop originally, and now you want to give us an extra twenty percent of the profits? It’s way too generous." Ye Xia agreed.

"Listen to me first." Ye Qiu looked at them seriously, "Xue Mei will have to take care of two children alone; it’s inevitable she won’t be able to manage the shop fully. Plus, I’m worried that after I leave, my parents might come to give Xue Mei trouble for other reasons. I don’t have any other requests. I just hope that if Xue Mei and the two children encounter difficulties, Second Sister and Brother-in-law can help keep those difficulties out."

"Will mother still come? Haven’t all relations been cut?" Ye Xia was stunned, asking with furrowed brows.

"That’s not certain." Ye Qiu smiled bitterly, "Besides, orphans and widows are always easily bullied."

Ye Xia sighed deeply: "Rest assured, Jia Zhihe and I will surely take good care of Xue Mei and the two nieces, making sure they suffer no harm."

"With Second Sister’s promise, I’m relieved. Only when they are well can I be at ease when outside."

Meanwhile, the Ye Family was also in a cloud of gloom. According to regulations, Ye Dong, being unmarried and living alone, didn’t need to enlist, but Ye Chun had to go.

Wang Hong spent a day inquiring around the county government, spending quite a bit of money, and eventually learned that unless her husband died or was disabled at this time, he still had to go to the army, regardless of how much money was spent.

"You can’t go. If you go, how will I live? The northern battles are so dangerous, you’re sure to die!" Wang Hong shouted in tears, "It’s all that wretched Niu Xue Mei’s fault. If it weren’t for her suggesting the separation, our family would only need to send one person, just Old Third would have gone to die. Why involve my man?"

At this moment, Wang Hong never even considered why Niu Xue Mei suggested the separation. And who was most enthusiastic after the proposal? Such people only ever know to attribute mistakes to others, the most selfish of sorts.

Ye Dong, currently indifferent, even had the heartless thought that if elder brother and third brother both died in battle, then aside from father and mother, he would be the only adult male left at home. What about the properties of elder brother and third brother...

"Mother, I don’t want to die." Ye Chun, upon learning he must go to war, was also weak-legged, "I still haven’t seen my two sons grow up; I still haven’t seen them achieve fame and honor for the family. I don’t want to die, Mother, think of a way."

"What can be done now?" Old Lady Wang, with hair white from worry, "Money can’t be given to resolve this, except you become disabled now; otherwise, the government official said there’s no discussion on this matter."

"Disabled?" Ye Chun’s face went pale as he glanced at his legs, muttering, "Being disabled is certainly better than dying, isn’t it?"

Wang Hong’s cries paused: "What are you thinking of doing?"

Old Man Ye and Old Lady Wang also looked over simultaneously, their faces showing expressions of compassion.

Ye Chun gritted his teeth: "I don’t want to die; isn’t it just a matter of breaking a leg? At worst, spend some money to hire a doctor. I can endure the pain."

Wang Hong thought about the pain, gritted her teeth but said nothing, knowing that being a widow after her husband’s death is incredibly tough. A disabled husband is better than none; after all, he’s still alive.

"Have you thought it through?" Old Lady Wang asked, "But if the leg is broken at this time, the government will probably suspect and hold you accountable."

Ye Chun, at this moment, rarely displayed wisdom: "I’ll just say I’m about to enlist, couldn’t bear my parents’ toils, so went to chop wood on the mountain, and the leg was injured from a fall."