Transmigrated Into an Ancient Famine Novel as a Scumbag Alpha (ABO, GL) - Chapter 87

Chapter 87

At lunch, the atmosphere at the table was strangely tense. Only the sound of chopsticks hitting bowls remained quietly.

Ye Qing glanced at Jiang Jinhuang secretly from time to time. She feared Jiang Jinhuang was still angry. Song Zhao did the same. She sat there, ate silently, and dared not speak.

Even the little one was unusually well-behaved today. She sat in her child’s chair and ate obediently.

They finished the meal in this odd atmosphere. After eating, Ye Qing returned to her room and packed items. She stored unused cotton clothes in her space. Then, she went outside and checked the wooden cart. She reinforced loose parts with nails securely.

After finishing these tasks, she fed the horses in her space some fodder and beans. In short, Ye Qing completed all necessary chores efficiently.

She visited the previous agent and reclaimed the deposit. They planned to head north tomorrow morning. This journey should be easier than before. Towns along the way were open. Porridge stations set up by the court appeared regularly. Ye Qing’s group could travel through wilderness or towns. They could stay at inns at night. They wouldn’t be as disheveled as before.

While she fed the two horses in the courtyard, Jiang Jinhuang came out. “I packed the items,” she said. “Should we put them on the cart or in your space?”

Hearing Jiang Jinhuang speak to her, Ye Qing hurried over eagerly. “Put them in my space,” she said. “The cart will carry us four. Too many items might overburden it.”

“Then come take the items,” Jiang Jinhuang said. She walked to her room first.

“Okay!” Ye Qing replied, smiling happily.

She followed Jiang Jinhuang obediently. Seeing no smile on Jiang Jinhuang’s face, Ye Qing hesitated to speak. She feared making her cry again.

“The clothes on the bed are there,” Jiang Jinhuang said, pointing. “Also, some small items and toys you bought for Yangyang are there.”

“Good, I’ll take them,” Ye Qing said. She walked over quickly and stored the items in her space.

When she turned, she saw Jiang Jinhuang watching her. Ye Qing felt nervous inwardly.

Jiang Jinhuang saw Ye Qing’s nervous look and laughed in frustration. Was she so scary? Did Ye Qing need to fear her this much?

Jiang Jinhuang softened her expression. She walked to Ye Qing in a few steps. Ye Qing stepped back instinctively.

Jiang Jinhuang raised an eyebrow at her. “Don’t dodge,” she said firmly.

Ye Qing obeyed completely. She stood still obediently and looked at Jiang Jinhuang nervously.

“What are you afraid of?” Jiang Jinhuang asked, stepping closer. “Will I eat you?” She stopped in front of Ye Qing. Then, she gently adjusted Ye Qing’s collar and smoothed its wrinkles carefully.

Ye Qing looked at Jiang Jinhuang cautiously. “Not angry anymore?” she asked tentatively.

“I wasn’t angry to begin with,” Jiang Jinhuang said. She reached out and tugged Ye Qing’s dress, as if Ye Qing hadn’t worn it properly.

Ye Qing let Jiang Jinhuang adjust her clothes. She felt awkward slightly. Could she not even dress herself? But she dared not say more.

“Good you’re not angry,” Ye Qing said. “If I do something wrong, tell me directly. Don’t sulk quietly.”

“Okay, I understand,” Jiang Jinhuang said softly. She continued adjusting Ye Qing’s clothes gently.

Jiang Jinhuang wrapped her arms around Ye Qing’s waist. “Your belt isn’t tied right,” she complained softly.

“No way,” Ye Qing said doubtfully. She reached back and touched Jiang Jinhuang’s hand. She pulled her hand back quickly.

“How is it not?” Jiang Jinhuang said. “Stand still. I’ll retie it.” She wrapped her arms around Ye Qing’s waist, untied the belt, and retied it slowly.

While tying the belt, she nearly buried herself in Ye Qing’s chest. Yet, Jiang Jinhuang’s expression remained serious. Ye Qing thought she overthought it. Jiang Jinhuang probably had OCD, disliking her messy clothes.

With this thought, Ye Qing found the situation more normal.

When Jiang Jinhuang finished tying the belt, she saw Ye Qing standing uprightly. Jiang Jinhuang sighed deeply.

Sometimes, a Qianyuan’s lack of lust wasn’t good. Ye Qing was like a focused wooden post. Jiang Jinhuang deliberately bumped into her earlier, but Ye Qing didn’t notice.

Fine, she’d fallen for this wooden post. She’d take it slowly.

With this thought, Jiang Jinhuang adjusted Ye Qing’s clothes again deliberately. “There,” she said. “Next time, be careful. Your clothes were all wrinkled.”

“Okay, I’ll be careful,” Ye Qing said. “As long as you’re not angry, I’ll do anything.” She truly feared Jiang Jinhuang’s anger.

Jiang Jinhuang looked up and saw Ye Qing smiling at her. She sighed helplessly. How could Ye Qing’s temper be so good?

“Go check the kitchen,” Jiang Jinhuang said. “Take anything we bought that we can bring. We spent silver on them.”

“Okay, I’ll pack now,” Ye Qing said. She smiled at Jiang Jinhuang and left happily.

Jiang Jinhuang watched Ye Qing’s back and sighed. Ye Qing was always cheerful, like a carefree happy puppy.

Before, Jiang Jinhuang wouldn’t care about such items. Now, having faced hardships, she knew earning silver was hard. She wanted Ye Qing to take them.

Thinking of returning to the capital, she knew her mother was soft-hearted. A few tears might make her accept Ye Qing. Her elder sister would likely support her. But her father was rigid. If she wanted to be with Ye Qing, it would be troublesome. These items might be useful later.

Ye Qing went to the kitchen enthusiastically. They needed some items for tonight’s dinner. She stored unused ones in her space directly.

The next day, at dawn, Song Zhao led the two horses out. She hitched them to the cart. Then, the three adults loaded items onto it.

Ye Qing went to the kitchen. She stored items hard to carry in her space. She also took the little one’s child’s chair.

When they finished packing, daylight shone brightly.

Ye Qing locked the courtyard gate and returned the key. The four began their journey back.

Clearly, fewer people traveled the road this time. Ye Qing’s group moved smoothly. She urged the horses to run faster.

By evening, they reached a nearby village. They hadn’t made it to a town.

The weather was warmer now. Ye Qing’s group set up a simple shelter near the village.

Jiang Jinhuang lit a fire. Ye Qing and Song Zhao cooked dinner. They made mushroom and pork noodle soup.

The pork from Ye Qing’s space was fresh. The mushrooms came from Raozhou.

Song Zhao prepared the sauce. Ye Qing took a board and kneaded dough.

The little one sat beside Ye Qing, eyeing the dough eagerly. Ye Qing pinched off a small piece and gave it to her. “Play with this,” she said. “You’ve stared so long. Want to play?”

“Hehe, yes,” the little one said. She took the dough and rubbed it with her chubby hands.

Jiang Jinhuang watched nearby and sighed. Ye Qing would surely spoil her own children someday.

“Sister, look,” the little one said. She showed Jiang Jinhuang a misshapen chicken proudly.

“Mmm, the duck is cute,” Jiang Jinhuang said, smiling perfunctorily.

The little one pouted and corrected her. “It’s a chicken!” she said firmly.

“Okay, okay,” Jiang Jinhuang said, stifling a laugh. “The chicken’s cute. Happy now?”

“Mmm,” the little one said. She nodded, her topknot bobbing.

Jiang Jinhuang touched it a few times. Her Yangyang was still so adorable.

Ye Qing glanced at the little one’s ugly chicken. She shook her head, chuckling.

She rolled the dough flat, folded it, and cut it into noodles. When she finished, Song Zhao’s sauce was nearly ready.

Soon, Ye Qing’s group ate a fragrant dinner.

After dinner, Jiang Jinhuang and the little one slept in the cart. Ye Qing and Song Zhao slept outside. They took turns keeping watch.

Ye Qing wasn’t sleepy yet. She let Song Zhao sleep first. She sat by the fire alone.

Jiang Jinhuang settled the little one to sleep. She stepped out of the cart quietly. Seeing Ye Qing alone, she walked over and sat down.

“Why aren’t you asleep?” Ye Qing asked softly. “Is Yangyang asleep?”

“She fell asleep instantly,” Jiang Jinhuang said, shaking her head with a laugh. “No need for me to coax her.” The little one was carefree, ate well, and slept soundly.

“That’s good,” Ye Qing said, nodding with a smile.

Jiang Jinhuang glanced at Ye Qing. She pursed her lips and leaned closer to her.

“What’s wrong?” Ye Qing asked. “Are you cold? I’ll get another blanket.” She reached for one behind her.

Jiang Jinhuang stopped her hand. “No need,” she said. “Leaning on you keeps me warm.”

Jiang Jinhuang looked at Ye Qing. Ye Qing released the blanket. “Alright then,” she said.

She pulled Jiang Jinhuang closer gently. Fearing she’d offend her, Ye Qing let go quickly. Jiang Jinhuang leaned on Ye Qing’s shoulder naturally.

Ye Qing paused, coughed awkwardly, and said nothing more.

Jiang Jinhuang saw Ye Qing’s left hand behind her. She grabbed it and placed it on her waist. “This is warmer,” she said.

Ye Qing nodded but didn’t quite agree. A blanket would be warmer.

What did Jiang Jinhuang mean? Ye Qing checked the favorability panel. It showed no change, still at 40. Why did Jiang Jinhuang want her to hold her? Did she like her?

Ye Qing doubted it. With only 40 favorability, she thought it needed to be 70 or 80 to mean affection.

Unknown to Ye Qing, Jiang Jinhuang disliked Qianyuan generally. Few could even talk to her. Their favorability was lower, often near zero. Jiang Jinhuang’s 40 was already far above others.