Transmigrated Into an Ancient Famine Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 80

Chapter 80

Ye Qing deeply regretted her choice. If she had known Jiang Jinhuang would feed her, she definitely wouldn’t have left the carriage. Now, the little one and Song Zhao saw her being fed. Ye Qing desperately wanted to cry.

Jiang Jinhuang finished tidying the pots and bowls. She turned to look at Ye Qing and saw her sitting there pitifully. Jiang Jinhuang’s eyes curved as she smiled. “What’s wrong?” she asked teasingly. “Why so down?”

Ye Qing shook her head. “It’s nothing,” she replied glumly. “Let’s go rest.”

Seeing Ye Qing’s sour face, Jiang Jinhuang laughed even more. She supported Ye Qing carefully and helped her back to the carriage.

Once back in the carriage, Jiang Jinhuang spoke. “I told you to eat in the carriage, but you insisted on going out,” she said playfully. “Happy now?”

Ye Qing nodded pitifully. Her dignity was completely gone now.

Jiang Jinhuang looked at her and chuckled. “It’s not a big deal,” she said lightly. “I just fed you. No harm in that. Lie down and rest.”

As she spoke, Jiang Jinhuang helped Ye Qing lie down carefully.

Ye Qing became completely obedient this time. Disobeying Jiang Jinhuang only made things worse for her.

At night, Jiang Jinhuang released her personal scent as usual. This not only helped Ye Qing sleep but also aided her wound’s healing.

Ye Qing had grown accustomed to falling asleep in the peach blossom fragrance over these days.

For another three days, Ye Qing and her group neared Raozhou’s borders. That evening, they stayed in a forest outside the city. Other refugees, planning to enter the city the next morning, camped nearby. In Raozhou, refugees with money could buy food, ensuring their survival.

In the carriage, Jiang Jinhuang removed Ye Qing’s bandage. She carefully took out the stitches from Ye Qing’s left shoulder. Then, she disinfected the wound with iodine and antiseptic. Ye Qing felt little pain now, as the wound had healed well.

“We should keep it bandaged for a few more days,” Jiang Jinhuang said firmly. “Once it’s fully healed, we can remove the bandage.”

Ye Qing nodded in agreement. “Okay, I’ll listen to you,” she said. “Tomorrow, we’ll reach Raozhou city. We can find a place to settle down properly. I’m practically a wild person now.”

Not only Ye Qing, but Jiang Jinhuang was the same. They hadn’t bathed in ages. Still, Jiang Jinhuang warned, “Even in Raozhou, you can’t bathe yet. Your wound needs a few more days to heal.”

“What?” Ye Qing exclaimed, nearly collapsing. “But I’m practically rotting!” She finally reached a place where she could bathe, yet Jiang Jinhuang wouldn’t allow it.

“Bear with it,” Jiang Jinhuang said. “At most, I’ll help you wash your hair.” Since Ye Qing had just removed her stitches, Jiang Jinhuang believed she needed three or four more days of care.

Ye Qing sighed deeply. “Fine,” she said reluctantly.

Ye Qing’s wound had stabilized over the past few days. She no longer had fevers at night. Yet, Jiang Jinhuang still stayed with her. Letting Ye Qing stay with Song Zhao made Jiang Jinhuang uneasy.

As Ye Qing lay down, Jiang Jinhuang organized the items nearby. Then, she lay beside Ye Qing.

Ye Qing thought about their plans. In Raozhou, they could settle temporarily. Meanwhile, Jiang Jinhuang could send word back. After a few months, when the famine stabilized, Ye Qing would escort Jiang Jinhuang and the little one back to the capital. Alternatively, someone from the capital could come for them.

However, that way, Ye Qing couldn’t stay with Jiang Jinhuang. Her favorability was only at 40, achieved after taking a knife. Reaching 100 would be difficult. Thus, escorting Jiang Jinhuang herself was better. She might raise the favorability further on the journey.

“Once we reach Raozhou, we’ll find a place to settle temporarily,” Ye Qing said thoughtfully. “We’ll stay a few months. When the famine in the north stabilizes, I’ll take you and Yangyang back to the capital.”

“Okay,” Jiang Jinhuang replied. She asked casually, “What about you? What are your plans afterward?”

“I haven’t thought it through yet,” Ye Qing answered honestly. “For now, I’ll focus on getting you both back safely.” She wasn’t from Linzhou. In this world, anywhere was the same. She’d see if she could max out the favorability first. Otherwise, she’d die in two years, making other plans pointless.

Jiang Jinhuang pressed her lips tightly together. She turned her body toward Ye Qing. The carriage was too dark, so she couldn’t see Ye Qing’s expression clearly.

She pursed her lips and asked, “What about us? Have you thought about that?”

Jiang Jinhuang regretted asking immediately. She wasn’t sure if her feelings for Ye Qing stemmed from guilt or something else. Honestly, she wasn’t ready to be with Ye Qing.

Ye Qing paused at the question. After a moment, she replied, “We’re only married in name. We haven’t done anything else. If you find someone you like later, I won’t stand in your way.”

Hearing Ye Qing’s words, Jiang Jinhuang didn’t feel relieved. Instead, her heart felt inexplicably heavy. She turned away, leaving Ye Qing only her back.

Ye Qing’s words made it seem like she had no feelings for her. The more Jiang Jinhuang thought, the more upset she felt. These days, only she had developed feelings for Ye Qing. Ye Qing remained calm and unaffected.

This thought made Jiang Jinhuang angrier.

Ye Qing remembered Jiang Jinhuang had a childhood friend in the capital. Was Jiang Jinhuang asking because she feared Ye Qing would cling to her?

Ye Qing wasn’t that kind of person. Even if she couldn’t max out the favorability, she’d accept it. She wouldn’t interfere with Jiang Jinhuang’s life.

“Don’t worry,” Ye Qing added, fearing Jiang Jinhuang’s misunderstanding. “I’m not that kind of person. I won’t hold onto you forcefully.”

Jiang Jinhuang, still facing away, grew even angrier. Ye Qing showed no possessiveness toward her. Jiang Jinhuang couldn’t describe her feelings—sour and bitter. She even thought Ye Qing was clueless, treating everyone with the same indifference. It was infuriating.

Seeing Jiang Jinhuang ignore her, Ye Qing called out softly, “Jinhuang? Jinhuang?”

After two calls with no response, Ye Qing muttered quietly, “Asleep so fast?”

She didn’t think much of it. Since Jiang Jinhuang was asleep, she decided to sleep too.

With that thought, Ye Qing closed her eyes contentedly to drift off. Soon, she fell asleep.

Jiang Jinhuang, however, couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned. When she looked at Ye Qing, she saw her already asleep. This made Jiang Jinhuang even angrier.

So, only she cared about their earlier conversation? Ye Qing was something else.

Jiang Jinhuang took several deep breaths. Still upset, she deliberately kicked Ye Qing’s calf.

Ye Qing woke with a start. She lifted her head groggily and asked, “What’s wrong? What happened?”

Jiang Jinhuang huffed coldly. “Nothing,” she said. “You were snoring. It was too loud.”

“What? No way,” Ye Qing said skeptically. “I don’t have a snoring habit.”

“You did,” Jiang Jinhuang insisted. “I heard it.”

“Fine, fine,” Ye Qing muttered. “I’ll be more careful, okay?” Then, she closed her eyes again.

Soon, Ye Qing fell back asleep. Her post-apocalyptic habits let her sleep quickly in any environment.

Jiang Jinhuang barely slept that night because of this. In contrast, Ye Qing was full of energy, without a hint of dark circles.

Ye Qing could now eat on her own. But at breakfast, she sensed something off. Jiang Jinhuang seemed to ignore her. Ye Qing wasn’t sure how she had offended her.

After breakfast, it was the same. Jiang Jinhuang played with the little one in the carriage. Ye Qing sat to the side, watching them play.

Song Zhao drove the carriage into Raozhou city. Ye Qing lifted the curtain and looked outside. She finally saw pedestrians and vendors bustling about. The place wasn’t so desolate. Of course, there were refugees like them, coming to Raozhou to buy food and clothes.

Ye Qing pulled the curtain open and sat outside. “Find any inn,” she said casually. “Let’s settle down and rest first.”

Song Zhao pursed her lips and asked cautiously, “Master, do we have money for an inn?”

“Of course we do,” Ye Qing replied confidently. She had over two thousand taels of silver, enough for their expenses for a while.

“That’s good,” Song Zhao said, relieved to hear they had money.

Ye Qing pointed at an inn. “That one,” she said. “Hongjin Inn.”

“Okay,” Song Zhao replied. She guided the horses and stopped at the inn’s entrance.

Ye Qing jumped down. As she prepared to enter, an inn worker came out. Seeing Ye Qing and Song Zhao’s appearance, he frowned slightly.

Still, he approached politely with a smile. “Are you guests looking to stay?” he asked courteously.

Ye Qing nodded. “Do you have rooms available?” she asked. “We’ll take three for now.”

“We have rooms,” the worker replied. “But our best rooms cost one hundred wen per day…” He trailed off.

Ye Qing understood his concern—they might not have money. She quickly pulled a silver ingot from her pocket and smiled. “We have money,” she said confidently. “We won’t skip out on the bill.”

“No, no, of course not,” the worker said quickly. “Please, come in.” He ushered them inside.

“Good,” Ye Qing said. “Make sure to feed our horses.” She handed the worker ten wen as a tip.

The worker’s smile widened. His attitude toward Ye Qing and her group became even friendlier.

Jiang Jinhuang and the little one got off the carriage. Song Zhao handed the carriage to the inn’s staff. The group entered the inn together.

The innkeeper saw the worker bring them in. He didn’t say much and greeted them warmly. “Guests, do you want to eat or stay?” he asked politely.

“We’ll stay,” Ye Qing replied. “Prepare three rooms first. Also, get some bathwater ready. We’ll clean up before eating.”

“Right away,” the worker said eagerly. “Please, follow me upstairs.”

The three rooms were adjacent. Jiang Jinhuang, still worried, reminded Ye Qing, “You can’t bathe yet. I’ll have them bring water, and I’ll wash your hair for you.”

Ye Qing pouted. “Fine,” she said reluctantly.

Then, she told the worker, “Prepare bathwater for two rooms. For my room, bring a few basins of warm water. I’ll wash my hair.”

“Got it,” the worker replied. “It’ll be ready soon.”