After Mu Shaoling left, the very next day he indeed sent over five people, all of whom appeared to have excellent martial skills.
Yang Chuxia then arranged for them to stay in the West Crossing Courtyard where Luo Linhao was living.
From the Prefect’s side, Mu Shaoling brought news that he had already greeted the Prefect, and very soon the notice spread throughout the entire Funan Prefecture.
However, even as February was upon them, there was still no news from Ye Ziping, and Yang Chuxia wondered whether he had not yet entered Funan Prefecture or perhaps he had temporarily given up on seeking revenge against the Yang Family? Or maybe he was already within Funan, but no one had recognized him, so he had not been captured. It was unlikely that her guess was wrong and it was not him.
Yang Chuxia considered all possibilities, hence the Yang Family remained on alert at all times. The family’s stores would only open a few in the prefecture and county cities, including the one close to the academy in Wangquan Town, while the others remained closed.
Her two younger brothers had not yet returned to the academy, thinking that with the exams approaching soon, it was better to wait until after the exams to return to the academy. Normally, both would lock themselves in the study room, analyzing the questions Ye Zi’an had previously collected or the materials provided by their teacher.
As for herself, she had not returned to live in the small building either. It was not that she didn’t want to, but ever since the New Year, her belly had started to grow significantly, her growth reminiscent of a balloon being inflated, which made her firmly believe she was carrying twins.
Now not even five months pregnant, her belly looked like that of someone six months along. Mu Shaoling had also mentioned the possibility of twins, but they would have to wait until the fifth month for confirmation. Well, the ancient technology was not advanced enough for even a divine doctor to be certain.
"Father, can we start whitewashing the small building now?" Yang Chuxia thought about how their family’s small building had yet to be whitewashed and the courtyard was still just shy of being fully connected.
"You can whitewash now, I’ve already spoken with Uncle Old Gen, he will come tomorrow to whitewash the house for you."
"Will twenty days be enough to get it done?"
Yang Dachuan pondered for a moment and then said, "Twenty days is a bit tight, considering that row of rooms behind your house is not quite finished, plus the courtyard. You said you want the outside of the yard whitewashed too, right?"
"Then, Father, please ask Uncle Old Gen to hire a few more people. I’ll pay extra for the labor. Please have the house and courtyard ready for me before March."
Thinking of March when there would be much to do, such as planting beans, corn, peanuts, and also white sweet potatoes, and definitely wanting to get all of this year’s sugarcane into the ground, which would require germination in advance. Moreover, she had already decided that, catch or no catch of Ye Ziping this month, the stores must open. It wasn’t feasible to keep them closed indefinitely; there was much to do, and she couldn’t afford delays.
"Alright, I understand, I’ll talk to Uncle Old Gen tomorrow and ask him to find a few more people."
Due to heavy snow in the north rendering the roads impassable, Ye Zi’an’s group had stayed in an inn of a small town in Shandong for more than ten days, not resuming their journey until after the New Year had passed.
With such delays on the road, by the time he and Mr. Luo arrived in the Capital City, the Lantern Festival had already passed.
"I should have just had you ride with me back then," said Old Mu, who had come to meet them outside the city.
Mr. Luo replied irritably, "Do you think Brother An has skin as thick as yours, traveling eight hundred li in a single day without problem?"
"Give it a break, you think I don’t know the lad used to ride horses while he was traveling with you?" jeered Old Mu, "I’m saying, if you don’t take a dig at me, you feel uncomfortable, don’t you?"
Mr. Luo snorted in response upon hearing this.
The last time Old Mu had encountered Ye Zi’an was at night, and because he was preoccupied with military affairs, he had not been able to chat with Ye Zi’an or even take a close look at him.