Constable Hong handed her a small pouch, then gave another one to Ye Zi’an, "This is to compensate you for your medical expense, young man. Make sure to keep it safe."
"Thank you, Constable Hong!" Ye Zi’an comfortably accepted it and thanked him with a bow.
"All right, I’m going to head back now, I have work waiting for me at the yamen," Hong said, preparing to leave.
However, Ye Zi’an stepped forward just in time, discreetly taking out two small silver ingots from the pouch and stuffing them into Constable Hong’s sleeve, "A little token of my appreciation. Buy yourself and Constable Xu some wine. I’m really thankful for your help this time. I can only express my gratitude in this small way."
Upon this, Constable Hong accepted it with no objections, laughing. However, when leaving, he said to come find him if anything else were to arise in the future.
After saying goodbye to Constable Hong, Yang Chuxia and the others went to have a meal at a small restaurant. Afterwards, they got back into the rented horse carriage and returned to town.
When they arrived back in the town and changed into an ox cart, Ye Zi’an mentioned he needed to stop by the tavern and asked Yang Chuxia not to accompany him.
So, the rest of them waited at the town’s entrance.
About an hour later, Ye Zi’an came back, bringing with him an aide who was carrying many items.
"You can put those items onto the ox cart."
"Alright," the aide said, who then left after Ye Zi’an gave him five wen.
"Brother An, why did you buy all these things?" Land Officer Yang asked.
Ye Zi’an tugged at the corner of his mouth and gave a slight, bland smile.
Land Officer Yang thought to himself, this kid is something, always as silent as a bottle gourd, but whenever he does speak, he always says something startling. However, he noticed that the kid had started to give people smiles recently. He was smiling at him just now, wasn’t he? He used to be very reticent, keeping a cold face no matter who he met.
What he didn’t realize is, Ye Zi’an only smiles at those who have a close relationship with Yang Chuxia, or treat Yang Chuxia kindly. For others, he still kept his cold face, like the rest of the old Yang family for instance.
When they arrived at the village, Yang Dayong saw that Ye Zi’an had bought a lot of things, so he parked the ox cart outside the Old Yang family’s house.
Yang Dayong was about to leave with the ox cart after the items had been moved into the house, but he noticed there were two more packages left.
So he shouted, "Brother An, there are still two packages left."
"Uncle Dayong, those packages are for your family. I’ve troubled you and Grandpa Land Officer to stand as my witnesses today."
"Oh, you are quite courteous, kid." Then Yang Dayong shook his head, "Your Grandpa Land Officer is a land officer. It’s his duty to stand as a witness for you. We should help each other out since we are from the same village. No need to buy us anything, take it back, it’s hard for a child like you to make ends meet."
Upon hearing this, Ye Zi’an glanced at him and simply said, "This is for Grandpa Land Officer." Meaning it was not for Yang Dayong, so he had no right to reject it and should take it back right away.
So Yang Dayong opened his mouth and said, "Hey, this kid! Normally you don’t speak much, but when you do, you really leave others speechless. Today I learned my lesson. Alright, since it’s not for me, but for your Grandpa Land Officer, I’ll take it back right away."
Listening to Yang Dayong mumbling all the way, he drove the ox cart back home.
When Ye Zi’an returned home, Yang Chuxia was telling Ms. Wang about today’s events at the county yamen. When Ms. Wang heard that Old Lady Hua wanted Yang Da’an to take the blame, she also couldn’t believe it.