Chapter 50: Rules

Hearing the word "home," everyone except Wen Zhi felt a wave of emotional resonance.

They had long since forgotten how long they had lived a life of displacement, yet now they actually had a home of their own.

However, compared to Wang Wu, their feelings were dominated by a deep longing for their families.

Although this trip out had lasted barely half a day, to him, it felt as long as half a century.

More importantly, today's transaction was merely the beginning, and their future would undoubtedly grow better and better.

This filled him with boundless drive, making him eager to see his wife and daughter.

As for Feng Qin and Shi Min, they felt mostly a sense of nervous apprehension.

Although Zhao牧 had agreed to take them in, they knew nothing about Zhao Mu's background.

In case everything Zhao Mu did earlier was just to pacify them, only to reveal his true colors once they entered the village, the two of them would not even have the strength left to run away.

Yet, since they had already made their choice, there was no turning back.

Besides, even if they went back, survival was far from guaranteed.

Rather than that, they might as well take a gamble and follow Zhao Mu.

Wen Zhi very consciously took over Wang Hu's post, finding a concealed spot near the village entrance to keep watch.

The others returned to the small courtyard with Zhao Mu. Seeing Zhao Mu and the others return, Huang Wan and Wang Wu's wife immediately wore expressions of joy.

"Brother Mu, Master, you're back?"

Wang Wu's wife hurried over, taking out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Wang Wu's forehead.

Although autumn had already arrived, pulling the handcart all the way back was by no means easy.

Huang Wan glanced at Zhao Mu, then looked at Feng Qin and Shi Min, asking, "And these two are?"

Zhao Mu explained, "These are helpers I just took on along the way. They will help us deliver fish from now on."

Huang Wan, quick-witted and clever, understood the situation with a roll of her eyes.

However, she did not say much, merely smiling warmly, "Since you've arrived, let's fill your stomachs first."

Feng Qin and Shi Min immediately swallowed hard, cupping their fists in grateful salute to Huang Wan.

"Th... Thank you, Madam."

Not knowing Huang Wan's relationship with Zhao Mu, they subconsciously assumed Huang Wan was Zhao Mu's wife.

Huang Wan was slightly startled, but she did not explain, simply turning around and ducking into the kitchen.

Before long, she emerged with two bowls of the wheat porridge she had made that morning.

"We dare not light a fire during the day for fear of being seen by smoke, so you two will have to make do with it cold."

Huang Wan placed the wheat porridge in front of the two men.

Shi Min swallowed hard, instinctively reaching out to grab the bowl.

Feng Qin slapped his hand lightly, then bowed to Huang Wan, saying, "Thank you, Madam. Having anything to eat at all is already a blessing; the two of us wouldn't dare to be picky."

After expressing their gratitude, he picked up his bowl and, together with Shi Min, began to eat.

Although it was just a plain bowl of wheat porridge, and somewhat cold at that, the two men wolfed it down ravenously.

They even licked the soup and residue clinging to the bowls completely clean.

Once finished, the two men noticed that Zhao Mu and the others were all looking at them.

Feng Qin awkwardly said, "This humble one hasn't had a full meal in far too long. Please forgive us for making a spectacle in front of the master and madam."

Huang Wan smiled kindly. When they themselves had first eaten their fill in Ping'an County, weren't they just as ravenous?

Zhao Mu gave a dry cough and explained, "I forgot to introduce you. This is Miss Huang Wan, and the one beside her is the wife of Brother Wang Wu."

Hearing the word "Miss," Feng Qin realized he had addressed her incorrectly just moments before.

"My apologies, Miss Huang!"

Feng Qin hurriedly stood up and offered a formal apology to Huang Wan.

"Miss" and "Madam" carried entirely different meanings.

"Miss" referred to an unmarried young maiden, while "Madam" denoted a married woman.

Huang Wan cast a slightly shy glance at Zhao Mu, then said, "It's fine, no offense taken by the ignorant. Have the two of you eaten your fill? If not, I can go ladle out two more bowls for you."

Shi Min immediately revealed a yearning look, while Feng Qin hesitated and said, "Replying to... replying to Miss Huang, the two of us previously agreed that one meal a day would be plenty. This bowl of wheat porridge is already exceptionally precious; the two of us dare not ask for more."

Feng Qin had said those exact words when they begged Zhao Mu to take them in earlier.

Afterward, Zhao Mu had simply agreed to shelter them without attaching any conditions.

Feng Qin naturally assumed that Zhao Mu would only provide them with one meal a day.

Even if it was only one meal, this was still the most filling meal he had eaten in days.

Furthermore, it was wheat porridge, not tree bark or grass roots, and certainly not Guanyin clay.

To have such a bowl of wheat porridge, he was already thoroughly content.

However, no sooner had his voice trailed off than Huang Wan immediately took the two bowls back from the table.

"Eating only one meal a day—how could that ever do?"

Huang Wan walked into the kitchen and returned with two fresh bowls of wheat porridge, saying, "Eat. Just make sure you eat your fill."

Feng Qin and Shi Min exchanged glances, their eyes filled with emotion.

Immediately, Feng Qin dropped to his knees on the ground and said, "Feng Qin is deeply grateful for Miss Huang's immense kindness and great virtue! In the future, whenever Miss Huang has any commands, this Feng will certainly not hesitate!"

Shi Min was not articulate, but he too hurriedly dropped to his knees and said, "I... I'm the same."

Huang Wan stepped forward to help them up, deeply moved as she said, "You two don't need to be like this. Even without me, Brother Mu... your master wouldn't let you starve anyway."

Zhao Mu blinked and stepped forward, saying, "Miss Huang is right. From now on, not only will I not let you go hungry, but I will also pay you wages."

Upon hearing this, Feng Qin and Shi Min widened their eyes in utter astonishment.

"Th... There are wages too?"

Feng Qin stuttered out the question. He didn't dare to ask how much the wages would be, but the mere mention of wages alone felt completely surreal to him.

Countless refugees were currently gathered outside the city walls of Taiping County, desperate for nothing more than a single bite of food to fill their bellies.

Yet he and Shi Min had merely caught Zhao Mu and the others sneaking fish into the city that very morning, and from then on, not only would they have enough to eat, but they would also receive wages!

This not only greatly exceeded their expectations, but it also left them utterly incredulous.

This time, they had truly encountered noble benefactors!

Seeing that Feng Qin and Shi Min were about to kneel again, Zhao Mu hurriedly stopped them both.

"Remember this well: if you truly intend to stay by my side from now on, you must never kneel casually again!"

Zhao Mu looked at the two of them solemnly, establishing his very first rule.

Though Feng Qin and Shi Min were somewhat baffled, they nodded immediately.

And for the rest of their lives, the two of them always remembered this rule.

Aside from Zhao Mu and Huang Wan, they truly never casually knelt before anyone ever again!

"Eat up quickly."

Zhao Mu patted their shoulders and instructed, "However, since the two of you haven't eaten your fill in far too long, don't eat too much this time. It's not that I begrudge the grain, but I'm worried about your health. Once you've recuperated for a few days, I'll let you eat your fill to your heart's content!"