In a year of natural disasters, the young woman had billions of resources to build a paradise.

"You've misunderstood. The child is young and doesn't understand. We'll leave now!"

Li dared not offend the old woman, what if she got angry and wouldn't let them do the work anymore?

With no work to do, is the whole family just going to sit in the yard and starve?

She pulled Jiang Ranran towards the servants' quarters, saying, "Ranran, can't you be a little more sensible?"

"Mother, I know. I was just worried that you wouldn't eat well."

Jiang Ranran felt truly wronged; she didn't want to live like this for even a day longer.

The two returned to the Loyalty and Righteousness Courtyard, where Jiang Chuan and the others complained, "We worked all day, and this is all we got?"

Jiang Bocai and Jiang Jiman didn't say anything and ate in silence.

Despite their initial dislike, they still ate the entire bowl of swill-water vegetables clean.

Jiang Ranran ate only a few bites; the sight of it made her feel nauseous. After finishing one steamed bun, she made an excuse to leave the room.

Ever since the day Old Madam Ye told Ye Xiuyuan to handle it himself, she dismissed the maid who was watching them.

The other people in the courtyard naturally didn't want to keep an eye on her all the time.

She found a secluded corner, squatted down, and hid herself completely.

Then he took out a roasted potato and ate it in small bites.

The potatoes were cold, but they still had a soft and powdery texture, and tasted better than steamed buns.

I was halfway through my meal when I suddenly heard a noise above my head, so I quickly ducked to the side.

Just as I dodged, a dark figure descended from the sky.

"Well!"

With a muffled groan, the dark figure got up and met Jiang Ranran's gaze, who was staring wide-eyed from the corner.

"Brother Qi?"

"Ranran?"

Seeing the heartache in Qi Xuan's eyes, Jiang Ranran's tears streamed down her face.

In an instant, it felt like she was back in Tupo Village. Back then, she had the love of her parents and brother, and Brother Qi always thought of her. She was the envy of all the girls in the village.

When did things start to change?

She met Ye Xiuyuan and witnessed wealth and power, so she no longer wanted to marry Qi Xuan, who had a bloody past. That's why she came up with a plan to have Jiang Mianmian marry in her place.

If that bitch had obediently married, she might have married Ye Xiuyuan long ago.

So what if there's a natural disaster? I'm already the master of the Ye family! How could I be in such a sorry state, having to hide even to eat a potato!

She got up and threw herself into Qi Xuan's arms. "Brother Qi, where have you been all this time?"

"I went into the mountains and accidentally broke my leg."

Qi Xuan's eyes flickered, and for some reason, he kept quiet about what Jiang Mianmian had told him.

"So how are you now? Why are you running here?"

Qi Xuan is an idiot. Last time he tricked him into going after Jiang Mianmian, but somehow he not only failed but also broke his own leg.

We need to find out what's going on first before making any plans. Ideally, we should get these two involved!

Qi Xuan was silent for a while. "I originally went to catch up with your sister, but I failed and fell off a cliff instead. Fortunately, I only broke my leg. Later, I got lost in the mountains and found this village, so I climbed over it. I never expected to meet you here."

So that explains why I haven't returned to the village.

Jiang Ranran quickly came up with a solution, "Brother Qi, you have no idea how miserable we've been these past few days, sob sob."

As she cried, she attributed all the misery she had endured to Jiang Mianmian's malicious actions.

"My sister must have been bewitched and possessed by some kind of monster. That night she even kidnapped your parents and I don't know where she's locked them up!"

"what?"

Qi Xuan's face paled. Although he felt in his heart that Ranran's words might not be true, he couldn't help but worry about his parents. "And then? How did you get here?"

"Of course we were captured by that bitch... by my sister."

Jiang Ranran lowered her head. "Brother Qi, don't worry about us. I'll take you to find my sister first and ask Uncle Qi and the others where they are."

"Okay, then take me there quickly!"

Qi Xuan was anxious and didn't have time to carefully consider her words, nor did he see the scheming look on her face.

With half the task accomplished, Jiang Ranran was overjoyed.

They led him, avoiding the maids and servants, and quickly found Qingzhu Residence.

"Does your sister live here? Such a nice yard? The lights are off, she's probably already resting, isn't she?"

Qi Xuan felt it was inappropriate to just go in like that.

Ultimately, he is an outsider.

"At this hour, she's probably still playing with the old lady."

Jiang Ranran looked bitter. "My sister spends all her time coaxing the old lady, while we... You should go in quickly and wait for her in the main room. You can find out the answer by asking her."

Qi Xuan had no better idea. Seeing that the courtyard wall wasn't high, he simply climbed over it. "Then I'll find out which courtyard you live in after I find out."

"I...I'm right here. Shh, don't speak, someone's coming!"

Jiang Ranran quickly slipped away, making up a random excuse. How could she possibly admit that she had stayed in a servant's room!

Fortunately, Qi Xuan did not ask any further questions and jumped into the Green Bamboo Residence to hide.

She sneered and quickly ran into the old lady's Jinglan Residence.

"Hey? Who are you?"

The old woman guarding the gate stopped her and looked her over carefully. "Isn't this Miss Jiang? What are you doing here? Zhongyi Courtyard is in the other direction... What are you doing?"

Before she could finish speaking, Jiang Ranran knelt down with a thud.

She pinched her thigh hard, looked up and cried, "Please help me, please let my sister come out and see me. I have something very important to tell her, please!"

The old woman retreated repeatedly, saying, "Don't kneel down like that, let me go ask first."

The old woman turned and went inside.

Jiang Ranran knelt in the rain, shivering from the cold, but she was extremely happy.

Immediately! Immediately she can kick that bitch out!

Jiang Mianmian, who was dozing off inside the house, said, "Madam, please spare us! You have the energy to do the work of all three of us!"

"Isn't it because those medicinal diet recipes you mentioned are good?"

Grandma Ye pushed over the cards in her hand. "I've won! Alright, that's enough. What shall we eat tomorrow? I sent them to the river to catch snails. How about we make snail rice noodles?"

As he spoke, he swallowed hard.

"Okay, as long as you want to eat it, I'll do whatever it takes to make it for you."

As for pickled bamboo shoots, dried bean curd sticks, and pickled cowpeas, what doesn't she have in her warehouse?

At first, she was reluctant to save the old lady, and she also had selfish motives. But as they got to know each other better, she really grew to like this cheerful old lady more and more.

It even gave her a feeling that they were closer than family! So, it was just some food, as long as the old lady was happy, that was all that mattered.

As they were chatting and laughing, the old woman came in and first greeted the old lady.

Then he looked at Jiang Mianmian and said, "Miss Mianmian, that Miss Jiang is kowtowing outside, saying she insists on seeing you and has something very important to say."