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

Madam Ye is also busy.

She wanted nothing more than to point her finger at Ye Xiuyuan and yell, "The old lady hates these low-class things the most! Look at what you brought back, what kind of vulgar junk is that?"

“Mother, I didn’t know she could do such a thing.”

Ye Xiuyuan was also helpless.

It's enough that a little girl is pretty; how can she expect to have a brain?

If only he had a smart brain, why did he have to be born with a brain like a stupid pig?

Madam Ye cursed under her breath, "If it had actually worked out, that would have been fine, but look what happened! They just dumped her here! She's just someone who came to seek refuge, with a slightly special status, and she hasn't really done anything. Yet she dares to go around making a fuss and putting on an act. Does she think the old lady is stupid?"

She was seething with hatred. "You have to get rid of her today! And those Jiang family members too! Send them all away!"

Ye Xiuyuan was also annoyed, but he still couldn't bear to part with Jiang Ranran.

"Mother, I will persuade her. She must have just made a mistake. At worst, we can just let her stay in the yard and not run around outside. As for that family, they are honest enough. They can be used as laborers later. Isn't that good?"

"Then go and make them sign indentures! When the rain stops, send them out to be sold, so they won't have eaten all that good stuff from us for nothing."

Ye Xiuyuan thought this was a good way to handle things.

He agreed and left in a hurry.

After scolding her, Madam Ye's anger had just subsided a little when Granny Zhao came to call her.

She composed herself and reported back to the old lady in this manner, which managed to calm the old lady down.

However, Jiang Ranran did not want to sign a contract of servitude.

Ignoring the presence of the Jiang family, she threw herself into Ye Xiuyuan's arms, sobbing, "Brother Ye, if I sign the indenture, I... I'll be a slave, how can I..."

How can she marry into the Ye family and become the matriarch?

Jiang Jiman's eyes darted away. "Third Young Master, it's not that we don't want to sign. Now that the entire county has been evacuated to the east, even if we sign, the yamen can't process it, so what's the point of writing it? But even if we don't sign, we'll stay here obediently, and Ranran won't act impulsively and do anything stupid again."

After hearing what he said and seeing Jiang Ranran cry, Ye Xiuyuan softened a little.

Seeing this, Jiang Jiman said again, "Third Young Master, rest assured, from now on, if you point east, our Ye family will never go west, and if you point west, we will never go east. We will obey your orders."

The rest of the Jiang family had already received his instructions and immediately expressed their agreement.

"Alright then, it's not that I can't afford to support you."

Ye Xiuyuan relented and walked away, completely unaware that someone was missing from the room.

Ye Hansheng, who was huddled in the old lady's room, looked worried. "Grandma, I think I still have to go find my father. With such heavy rain, do you think they can really make it to the east side safely? And where will they end up? What about us?"

"I don't know when this rain will stop. Once it stops, we'll go to Dongling City, Yuncheng, and Quanzhou. We have shops there, so there's no need to worry."

Madam Ye took a sip of the preserved egg and lean pork congee. "Hmm, this congee is good. You should try it. This is a recipe taught by Mianmian."

"Really? Quick, give me a big bowl!"

Ye Hansheng's attention was diverted.

Madam Ye's smile faded slightly. How could she not have thought of what this child was worried about?

But when she asked Mianmian, she didn't know much more. She only knew that soon there would be various natural disasters, the imperial court would be a mere formality, and the military and refugee forces in various places would rise and fall. There was no place that was completely safe.

Even if the rain stops, going east will only give you a better chance of survival, not the same as before.

Fortunately, the Ye family had some resources, and she had also gotten to know Mianmian, so she was able to learn about this information in advance. Once she arrived in the east, she could find a suitable place to settle down and make plenty of purchases to prepare.

Having made up her mind, she stopped thinking about it and instead had Granny Zhao keep an eye on everyone on the estate while she began running and practicing martial arts in the house.

Only by being physically strong can they survive in the chaos and natural disasters of war.

Jiang Mianmian then led Jiu Niang and Shiqi Niang out of Ye Family Village and quickly returned to the cave.

Before they left, they had already said that they might bring Seventeen Niang back with them.

As they approached the cave, they saw Lin Bao craning his neck to look again.

He saw the group, his eyes lit up, and he turned back to shout into the cave, "They're back! They're all back!"

In the blink of an eye, a group of people wearing raincoats rushed out.

Seventeen took a few steps back in shock. "Are they crazy?"

"They miss you so much!"

Jiu Niang glared at her, then pulled her forward, saying, "We brought it back perfectly intact! Aren't we amazing!"

Jiang Mianmian slowly followed behind them, a smile playing on her lips.

What could be happier than being reunited with family?

If only the leader were here too.

Her eyes were slightly moist, and her consciousness swept around Taoyuan again.

Peach Blossom Spring remains largely unchanged, except for the calves, chicks, and grass that are slowly growing up. It seems that the merit points are still too few.

She should take this opportunity to check on the retreating troops. If anyone dares to cause trouble, it will be a good chance to accumulate merit points.

The group returned to the cave, and Seventeen Sister was so shocked that her mouth remained agape. "This...this is called a cave?"

During the few days that Jiu Niang was away, Qi Niang was in charge.

She put her hands on her hips and said proudly, "We've decided! 'Cave' doesn't sound good, so from now on we'll call this place Peach Blossom Spring!"

Twenty-Five hugged Jiang Mianmian's waist, beaming with a big smile, "Sister Mianmian, shall we call our cave Peach Blossom Spring? This is our paradise!"

"You even know about Shangri-La? That's impressive."

Jiang Mianmian picked her up and found her surprisingly easy to handle. "You've gained weight. Looks like you've been eating well these past few days?"

"Of course! Twenty-five is such a good girl! She even studies with Third Aunt."

Twenty-five struggled to jump down, shaking his head as he began to recite:

"...There is a small opening in the mountain, as if there is light...and fertile fields, beautiful ponds, mulberry trees, and bamboo groves..."

Everyone laughed heartily. After they had laughed enough, they prepared to take Seventeen-year-old Shiqi around the cave so that she could choose a cave she liked to decorate and live in.

Seventeen was still in a daze. Before she came, she had heard from Ninth Sister how they bought things and how difficult their journey was to reach the cave.

A cave!

It shouldn't be dark, low, damp, and dirty, with bears, tigers, and rats crawling around everywhere. Instead, you're telling me that this place, which is comparable to Ye Family Village—not comparable, but even more beautiful than Ye Family Village—is a cave.

Jiang Mianmian understood her surprise. After all, it wasn't just her; every time she returned to the cave, she was always startled by the changes inside.