The Marquise: I Earn My Own Worship

The children at home heard that their father had returned, and they came out happily one by one, pestering their father with questions.

Fang Youming, the eldest son of the Fang family, is holding his little brother. There are three children in the eldest house. He is the eldest and has a younger sister and a younger brother.

My younger brother is only five years old. He is in the growing period and he doesn’t eat well, so he is thin and weak. It makes people feel distressed just looking at him.

"Brother Pu, are you feeling uncomfortable?"

Fang Youming gently lifted up his short brown shirt, revealing dense red rashes all over it.

Pu Ge'er shook his head obediently, "It's not uncomfortable."

After a pause, he whispered, "It's still a little itchy."

Fang Youming looked at Pu Ge'er. He was still young and couldn't control the expression on his face. He was obviously in great pain, but he was still trying hard to hold it together.

"Just bear with it, don't try to catch it, wait for Big Brother to think of a solution."

He Jiajing looked at her two sons talking, then turned and went to the kitchen to cook.

It was called a kitchen, but it was actually just a stove made of earth in the corner of another room, and an iron pot that had been patched countless times.

This iron pot was issued by the government a while ago. It can still be used after some repairs.

They made handkerchiefs and other things and saved up quite a few of them. When the time comes, they will go to the official craftsman to exchange them for one.

Compared to the things from the official craftsmen, the ones from the common people are definitely cheaper, but the people here generally don't talk to them for fear of getting into trouble.

So they could only go to the government to exchange what they wanted.

He Jiajing and her sisters-in-law were busy at work, chatting from time to time.

They were all daughters of officials who were raised well, but now their hands are rough and ugly, with dense wrinkles all over them.

Their dinner was simple, a big pot of porridge made with brown rice and some finely chopped husks.

Because the men had just returned from work, the rice was cooked thicker than usual, and He Jiajing also added a little salt.

One bowl per person, no more.

Children and women only eat half a bowl, which is almost the amount they usually eat.

Fang Youming watched as his mother only ate a little and prepared to feed the rest to Pu Ge'er.

"Mother, I still have some left. Please eat them quickly. I'll share some with Pu Ge'er."

As he was about to pour it into Pu Ge'er's bowl, He Jiajing quickly stopped him.

"You Ming, what are you doing?"

He Jiajing stopped him and asked him to eat quickly.

"You're doing all that physical work outside, so you should eat more. These things should be eaten by you first. It's okay if I eat less."

Fang Youming's eyes were slightly red and a little sore.

How could he not know that his mother was coaxing him? Even if he ate ten bowls of food without oil, it would not be enough for him.

What's more, this only means that you are alive and not starving to death.

"There's some water, eat it yourself. We still have to dig a canal tomorrow."

Old Master Fang spoke, Fang Youming blinked, turned his head away and drank the porridge in the bowl bit by bit.

If you don't eat, you will be too hungry to work tomorrow. If you are seen by the conscripted soldiers, they will insult you at best and beat you at worst.

Every year, countless refugees die from forced labor. They have large families and help each other, so they can barely complete their daily tasks.

He can't hold everyone back.

His cousin, who was three years younger than him, sat down next to him with a bowl in his hand.

"Brother, did you see the magistrate today? Doesn't he look familiar to you?"

Fang Youming shook his head. At that time, he was pushing a wooden cart and had no time to look up.

Fang Youhuai put the empty bowl aside and touched his stomach which had not changed.

"I just saw him from a distance and he looked familiar, but I just can't place him."

"You Huai, be careful with your words."

Fang Youhuai is the child of the third branch of the Fang family. The third son of the Fang family scolded him softly.

What does it matter whether they know each other or not? They are now exiles, not the Fang family in the capital.

Fang Youhuai was frightened by his father's shout and ran to wash the dishes with the empty bowl.

There is an inland river in Yumen, which is enough for daily water use, but the water quality is poor and a bit turbid. The water is enough for washing dishes, and people still have to go to the official well to fetch water for eating and drinking.

"This brat is so careless with his words, he'll suffer in the future."

The third son of the Fang family sighed helplessly.

"He's still a child. Third brother, don't be mean to him. Talk to him nicely."

The second son of the Fang family patted the third son on the shoulder and said, "You Huai is only fifteen, a half-grown boy who knows nothing."

"I'm afraid if I don't keep an eye on him and he gets into trouble, it will be a big problem."

"No, Third Brother, we'll all go out together. We'll keep You Huai under our care, so nothing will happen."

As Fang Laoliu was speaking, You Huai just happened to come back.

"Uncle is still the best."

Fang Youhuai looked at his father proudly. Fang Laosan couldn't bear to look at the child, so he silently picked up the bowl and left.

"Hello, uncle. Then you wash the dishes for me."

Fang Laoliu stood up and looked at You Huai. The child didn't eat well, so his body didn't grow tall and only reached his chest.

As soon as he said this, Lao Liu's wife came over and heard it. She laughed and scolded him, telling him to wash the dishes quickly.

"You're even waking up the child. Virtue, go wash quickly."

When Fang Youhuai heard this, he immediately hid beside his elder brother.

"My uncle is nice, but he loves to set traps for me. He'd coax me into doing things for him in just a few words. When I was little, he always ordered me around."

When talking about the past, Fang Youming smiled a little more.

"At that time, even when I pulled you, you would run after my uncle. My third uncle was so angry that he almost gave you to my uncle as his son."

"That's right, your third uncle is a fool. I was so angry that I gave him a cold shoulder for several days."

Aunt Fang scratched her son's head with a fine needle, looked at his silly look, which was exactly like his father, shook her head and continued with the work in her hands.

As soon as this topic was mentioned, the whole family started talking about it, and everyone was immersed in memories of the past.

Memories are like sweet dreams, as if talking about the past can make them forget their current situation.

Old Master Fang was sitting on the straw in the corner, and Old Madam Fang, whose eyesight was not very good, was listening to the younger generations talking nearby.

"Master, what are you thinking about?"

Old Madam Fang noticed that the people around her had been silent, so she asked.

Old Master Fang shook his head, but when he realized that no one around him could see him, he spoke, "Nothing. I was wondering where my second brother and the others are right now. I just hope they are safe and well."

There are more than one hundred members of the Fang family. Although they were exiled to Yuanning, none of them knew where the other party was in the three counties and twenty-one prefectures under Yuanning County.

"Master, don't worry. We can all get here safely, and so can my second brother and his family. As long as the family works together, there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome."

Old Madam Fang could only vaguely see the figure of the person next to her. She reached out her hand and Old Man Fang grabbed her hand.

She patted Mr. Fang's hand soothingly, and the two of them held each other tightly.

He Jiajing sat at the door in a daze.

Fang Youming noticed his mother's mood and walked over.