Chapter 428: Chapter 417: The Top Scorer from a Farming Family
Looking at the food served on the table, Ye Qiu fell silent for a moment. The leftovers that made Daya distressed were merely dotted with bits of meat, and the staple was just a few wild vegetable steamed buns, but even this was something Little Ya had never tasted before.
Looking at the emaciated Little Ya, Ye Qiu’s heart ached intermittently: "Let’s eat."
Ye Qiu picked up his chopsticks only to realize that his three younger sisters hadn’t started eating. They were clearly starving and drooling, but they remained polite, because Ye Li had taught them since a young age that good food should be reserved for the eldest brother, as his studies were arduous.
Helpless, Ye Qiu served each of them half a bowl of vegetables, trying to ensure that everyone had the same amount of meat in their bowl.
"Big brother, we can’t eat this much." Seeing the bottom of the dish appearing, Daya was horrified and instinctively pushed her own vegetables towards Ye Qiu. Erya, seeing this, silently pushed her bowl forward as well, only Little Ya looked on blankly, then gazed up at Ye Qiu with wide eyes.
"No need." Ye Qiu’s face darkened as he asserted his authority as the eldest brother: "From now on, I make the decisions at home, and what I say goes. Eat."
Ye Qiu’s presence was compelling; Daya dared not speak anymore but felt a warm current flowing through her heart. Ye Qiu then pushed Erya’s bowl back in front of her, his voice softening: "Hurry up and eat."
Although Little Ya was only five years old, she was clever. Once she got the affirmative sign, she eagerly started stuffing the vegetables into her mouth, eating so hastily that she even hiccupped, but she did not stop her movements, clearly very hungry. Her manners were unsightly, but no one criticized her at the moment.
It’s still because of poverty! Ye Qiu sighed internally. He had countless delicious foods in his space, but he could not just carelessly take them out. He would have to think of a way to do so in the future.
The meal was satisfying for everyone except Ye Qiu, even though it was leftovers from a funeral. Yet when mixed together, it had a distinct taste, not to mention that the three sisters hadn’t had a full meal in a long while. After eating, Ye Qiu still had to do the dishes, but this time Daya, no matter what Ye Qiu said, refused to allow it. In her heart, scholars were very noble, and moreover, Ye Qiu, being a male and already a child student, should not be doing women’s chores. Her limit was just tending the fire, so eventually, Ye Qiu was driven out of the kitchen.
He swore he saw the corners of Erya’s mouth tilt up slightly—it was better that she smiled because Erya was just too silent and timid.
Having done the dishes, Daya also heated a large pot of water. Firewood was free, and the hills behind were full of it. As long as they didn’t venture into the deep woods, it was generally safe. After busying themselves for three days, the four siblings each took a hot bath, then went to bed on Ye Qiu’s urging, with Little Ya sleeping with Daya and Erya.
Ye Qiu lay in bed, which consisted of wooden planks with a thick layer of straw underneath, topped with a thin cotton quilt; the blanket was also cotton. Although old, it was still warm enough for autumn. However, since his bedding was the best in the household, it was imaginable how poor Daya and Erya’s bedding was. It was manageable now, but in less than two months winter would come, and without thick cotton quilts, they would undoubtedly suffer from the cold.
Ye Qiu sighed deeply; the conditions at home were just too poor, especially since he couldn’t casually take out things from his space. He would have to find a way to earn money.
"It’s so late already!" Daya suddenly woke up, only to realize the sun was already high in the sky. Little Ya, beside her, woke up looking dazed. Seeing Daya get up, she rubbed her eyes in confusion, and Erya, hearing the commotion, also lifted her thin blanket.
Daya hurriedly got dressed, berating herself for sleeping so late. The funeral was only completed yesterday, and although they had returned everything they borrowed, there was still a lot to be done at home. Especially now, as they hadn’t even figured out today’s breakfast. How could she have slept into broad daylight?
To Ye Qiu, it was normal for them to sleep late. Ye Mu had just passed away, and during the three days of the funeral, they hardly slept at all. Yesterday, after having a full meal and a warm bath, falling into a deep sleep was inevitable.
Daya got up and went to the kitchen, only to discover steam coming out of the pot. Lifting the lid, she found not just a big pot of hot water, but also an iron basin on top, containing several steamed sweet potatoes.
"Brother?" Daya called out. This meal must have been made by her brother, but how could he do these things? And where was he?
"You’re up?" Ye Qiu walked in carrying a bucket, looking quite natural, "Where are Erya and Little Ya? There’s hot water in the pot, wash up first, and then have breakfast."
Seeing the pig feed bucket, Daya’s waxen pale face blushed slightly, "Brother, you went to feed the pigs? How could you do these things, I should have done them, it’s my fault for waking up late." She was on the verge of tears as she spoke.
At this point, Erya and Little Ya also came out from the West Wing Room, looking uneasy and anxious at Daya’s near-tearful state.
"It’s just chores, why make it seem like the sky is falling," Ye Qiu said with a mixed expression of laughter and exasperation, "Look, you’ve even frightened Erya and Little Ya."
Daya glanced at her two younger sisters, pursed her lips tightly, then snatched the pig feed bucket from Ye Qiu’s hands, "Then, brother, you go eat first; I’ll do the rest."
Actually, Ye Qiu had already finished most of the chores, seeing Daya distressed, he did not stop her.
"Brother, where did you get these sweet potatoes?" Daya asked, biting into one and tasting its soft, fragrant sweetness.
After being introduced from overseas into the Tianlin Dynasty two hundred years ago, sweet potatoes quickly spread throughout Jiangnan for their high yield and soil adaptability, popular among the common people. Logically, the Ye Family shouldn’t be lacking sweet potatoes, but because Ye Qiu was focused on studying, they were extremely poor, having sold almost all their land and only growing a little rice to meet the tax requirements. Otherwise, their food was either foraged from the mountains or obtained by trading Ye Li’s embroidery work for some grains, which were cheaper than sweet potatoes, so that’s what Ye Li usually traded for.
Soft and warm, the sweet potatoes felt like a dream in Little Ya’s stomach, as she had eaten to her fill for two consecutive days now, with foods she had never tasted before.
"Borrowed them from Wang Po’s house," Ye Qiu glanced at Daya, who looked anxious, and sighed again, this family was putting too much burden on a child who had just turned eleven, "Don’t worry, I will return them soon."
Wang Po, the old lady who had gone to the school that day to notify Ye Qiu, lived next to the Ye Family. Because the Ye Family was poor, even their own clan shunned them, but she had always been kind to the Ye Family, often helping them out in times of need.
"Eat," Ye Qiu patted Daya’s head, "Why worry so much at such a young age? Be careful not to turn ugly. Don’t worry, if big brother says there’s a way, there definitely is."