Yang Chuxia followed behind him, walking with a limp.
"Can you still walk?" Ye Zi’an asked.
"I can!" It hurt just a bit, but it didn’t prevent her from continuing.
However, as they neared home, Yang Chuxia found that her foot was hurting more and more.
Upon seeing this, Ye Zi’an placed the fish basket on the side, squatted down to examine her foot. "Give me a hand," he instructed.
Having said that, he removed her shoe and stocking, indeed, her foot was red and swollen!
Ye Zi’an helped her put the shoe and stocking back on, then squatted in front of her. "Climb up, I’ll carry you home."
"But what about the fish? What about the basket full of fish?" Yang Chuxia looked at the basket on the ground. It was full of fish; they couldn’t just leave it there for someone to take away.
"What’s more important to you, the fish or your foot?"
"The fish!" Yang Chuxia replied without thinking.
Ye Zi’an almost burst into laughter at her answer, "Are you stupid? How much could these fish possibly be worth? Leave them here; if anyone wants to take them, let them take them."
Without further discussion, he picked Yang Chuxia up and headed home.
Yang Chuxia kept yelling about the fish, but Ye Zi’an completely ignored her.
When they were nearing the entrance of their home, Yang Qingrui and his brother, who were returning from school, happened to be there. Ye Zi’an called out, "Qingrui, Qingtong!"
"Brother Zi’an!" Yang Qingrui just got off the carriage and saw two people. He quickly ran over. "What happened to my sister?"
"I twisted my ankle," Yang Chuxia replied.
"Sister, you need to be more careful! Spraining your ankle is very painful," Yang Qingrui said with concern.
However, Yang Qingtong was less sympathetic, "Sister, you need to be more careful in the future. Brother Zi’an just recovered from his leg injury. Carrying you might damage his leg again."
Upon hearing this, Yang Chuxia glared at Yang Qingtong in anger. Ye Zi’an knew without looking that she must be furious.
He also gave Yang Qingtong a cold stare and then proceeded to carry Yang Chuxia home.
Yang Qingtong was confused by Ye Zi’an’s glare. He looked at his brother, "Did I say something wrong? Why is Brother Zi’an glaring at me?"
"That’s because you’re silly!" Yang Qingrui flicked his forehead, "My sister is far more important to Brother Zi’an than himself. If you talk like that, you’re asking for trouble."
"Ah," Yang Qingtong yelped in surprise, "I’m doomed, I’m doomed, my peaceful holiday..." Yang Qingtong thought he might be punished again by having to write characters.
Ye Zi’an, who heard the brother’s conversation from the front, turned around and said coldly, "Go ahead on this road, and not far away is a basket of fish that your sister and I brought back. You two need to bring it back."
Upon hearing his instructions, Yang Qingrui dashed off, while Yang Qingtong reluctantly followed behind.
"How shameless, being carried around in broad daylight," An unsympathetic voice came from behind just as they were stepping over the threshold.
Yang Chuxia turned her head to see Yang Lichun, carrying a small basket.
"I am willing to be carried by Brother An, do you have a problem? He wouldn’t even carry you if you asked!"
Yang Chuxia didn’t mince her words when it came to Yang Lichun. She would never forget that this woman once had designs on Brother An.
Speaking of which, Yang Chuxia was a little resentful towards Land Officer Yang. Why did he need to keep this mother and daughter duo around? If not to annoy her, then why? Every now and then, they would show up to make their existence known.
She wouldn’t put up with it. If they pushed her too far, she might just ruin this young girl.
"Don’t compare me with you, I have respect for myself!" Yang Lichun shot back.
Upon hearing this, Yang Chuxia smirked, "Don’t make me laugh. Who was it that used to cling to Brother Ziping and go around town hand in hand, shopping for fabric?"