Chapter 584: Just Get By in a Daze

Qin Yao noted down all the New Year gifts returned by various families, locked the storeroom door, and prepared to go back to her room to rest for a while.

"Knock, knock, knock, knock!"

A rhythmic, short knock sounded at the door.

Qin Yao saw Yin Le running out from the woodshed to open the door, relieved to be relaxed, and continued walking toward her bedroom.

She had already resolved the village matters and those of the stationery factory; in the short term, there wouldn’t be anything requiring her attention. Qin Yao guessed that whoever was outside the courtyard wasn’t looking for her.

Probably it’s the village’s eldest sisters-in-law and younger aunts, coming to find Mrs. Li to do some sewing together.

The Liu Family was willing to use charcoal for fire, the walls were thick, the windows large and bright, the room was warm and bright; for the past few days, women coming to Mrs. Li’s to enjoy the charcoal fire had been unceasing.

Using a room like this wasn’t a big deal to Qin Yao. She didn’t mind it at all and let them be happy.

Mrs. Li, like Qin Yao, saw Yin Le going to open the door, hurriedly covered the lard boiling on the stove, pulled the firewood from the stove, and buried them in ashes to extinguish them. She quickly washed her hands and walked toward the door with a smile.

The teasing greeting hadn’t even left her mouth when, just as she opened it, Mrs. Li looked on with surprise. Outside the courtyard were three completely unfamiliar faces.

"Little sister, it’s really you!"

The young woman among the three at the door, surprised and looking at the ugly-faced girl who came to open the door, directly called out her name, "Ah Yue!"

Called by name, Yin Le looked at the three familiar faces in front of her, emotions surging, both happy and surprised, yet panicked.

One was her father, whom she hadn’t seen for two years yet seemed to have aged by ten years. When she was home, his head of black hair was now mostly gray.

One was her elder brother, the one who protected her since childhood, saying that if she wanted to marry when she grew up, he would find the most handsome young man for her within a hundred miles. If she didn’t want to marry, he’d support her at home for life.

And the other was her elder sister-in-law, when she entered the family, she was still an ignorant child; when her parents were busy with business, it was always her elder sister-in-law who took care of her, taught her needlework, and loved her like her own child.

If those bandits had never appeared, Yin Le couldn’t even imagine how beautiful and happy that life would have been.

Alas, after enduring great hardship, one sees people’s true hearts clearer.

They truly loved her, yet were also truly afraid of her.

Her master had spoken to her about how human nature is complex, not entirely black and white; most have shades of both. If one doesn’t cross the line, it’s easier to muddle through.

Now looking at herself in the mirror, her eyes crystal clear, she no longer hated anyone, naturally including the three close kin who braved the wind and snow to find her.

Taking two deep breaths internally, Yin Le quickly composed herself, aiming to ask calmly, "Father, elder brother, elder sister-in-law, how did you find out I was here?"

"It was your elder brother who saw you," Eldest Sister-in-law Yin explained, "The day before the first snow, your elder brother went to town to buy charcoal, and saw you at the city gate. He called out to you, but you didn’t respond, thinking he may have mistaken someone else..."

Later, when the girl in the carriage turned her head, Eldest Brother Yin dared to confirm that the girl was their long-missing little sister.

Only, at the time, the charcoal seller kept chatting with him, causing him to miss the chance.

Fortunately, when asking around at the city gate, someone recognized the young carriage driver as Liu Gong, the eldest son from the wealthy Liu Family Village. He also had a younger brother named Liu Li who studied at the county school.

Eldest Brother Yin then went to the academy and sought out Liu Li for information, where he learned everything about Yin Le.

However, Liu Li was cautious and didn’t mention Yin Le’s apprenticeship with Qin Yao, only saying that she now worked as a lady worker at the stationery factory in the village and lived at the village head’s home.

The Yin Family, having gone through great difficulties, finally reunited with their missing daughter. Eldest Sister-in-law Yin, excitedly moved forward, took hold of Yin Le’s hand.

Feeling the warmth of her little sister-in-law’s hand, she realized her own were ice cold and wanted to withdraw.

Yin Le felt a pang in her heart, instead reversing her grip on her sister-in-law’s hand.

Eldest Sister-in-law Yin saw such a large scar on her little sister-in-law’s face and, her nose prickling, tears quickly gathered in her eyes and uncontrollably fell.

"Why haven’t you come home?" Mr. Yin questioned sternly.

Worry followed them all the way here, but now seeing her in person, his face darkened, still as stern as ever.

But the fingers trembling by his side betrayed his true emotions.

Mr. Yin looked up to observe the courtyard before them, built haphazardly without any sense of order, entirely reflecting the whims of the homeowner.

But the materials were solid, indicating a relatively prosperous family, so living here wouldn’t require worrying about the elements.

But having a young girl living all the time in someone else’s home was highly improper.

Mr. Yin sent a signal to his son, Eldest Brother Yin nodded, stepped forward, and alongside his wife, each took an arm of Yin Le, "Come, come home with elder brother and sister-in-law."

Having just felt warmth and affection, hearing her brother’s words, Yin Le instantly jolted, clearing her mind. She quickly pulled her hands free and took two steps back.

"I won’t go; I’m doing quite well here. I can support myself; you don’t need to worry about me," Yin Le said earnestly.

After looking at the carriage parked on the dam, she pointed, "Father, you should go back. Don’t come looking for me again. I will visit you when I have the time."

Eldest Sister-in-law Yin immediately frowned, urgently asking, "Ah Yue, do you still resent us for forcing you into marriage?"

Eldest Brother Yin also explained, "That marriage proposal was long ago annulled, mother and father personally returned the engagement gifts and even compensated with plenty of good things. Now, no one will push you anymore. Ah Yue, be good and come home, mother misses you so much she can’t eat."

Upon hearing news of her mother, Yin Le’s eyes lighted up, "Is mother okay?"

Mr. Yin wanted to say she wasn’t, but seeing the scarred face of his daughter, his heart softened, and he nodded, "She can eat, just misses you too much. At night, she always dreams of you, and upon waking, scolds us for not bringing her Ah Yue back."

It was the truth; Yin Le saw it, her throat tightened; she missed her mother too.

But she wouldn’t return, at least not now.

Just as she was about to say that she wouldn’t go home, Qin Yao’s voice suddenly came from behind in the courtyard.

"Everyone, please come in and have a seat."

Mrs. Li had quickly returned to the courtyard to report to her mistress, and Qin Yao had been observing for quite a while.

Qin Yao walked out with a gentle smile and wrapped an arm around Yin Le, who was swaying uncertainly in the wind, unsure of where to go, "Bring your family inside to sit by the fire; it’s cold outside, don’t catch a chill."

"Master~" Yin Le called out softly in surprise, instantly feeling renewed strength within her.

Forcing her tears back, Yin Le nodded firmly, reluctantly stepping away from her master’s warm embrace, she approached her family saying:

"This is my master Qin Yao, also my lifesaver, and she is the village head of Liu Family Village."

With a proud tone, Yin Le said the last sentence, as if feeling honored.

The Yin family trio looked up in surprise at Qin Yao, unexpectedly finding that this woman who seemed about the same age as their girl was the one who broke the archaic customs of Kaiyang County and successfully became village head as a woman!