Chapter 100: It's So Hard to Go Out

Ye Li and Yan Mu'er bowed slightly, then followed Ye Kun out the gates of the Ye residence.

Ye Kun and Ye Qin stood at the front entrance, exchanging a glance between brothers.

Their eyes told each other: this was far too strange. Mother had seemed remarkably composed. From what they remembered, she ought to have clung to her two sons and wept for a good while, but looking at how she had just acted, she could hardly wait to see them leave.

"Brother, I'd wager Mother and Father are celebrating inside right now."

"Quite possibly. Mother and Father have finally been released from their burden." Ye Kun let out a long sigh. At last, they were stepping out from under their parents' shadow and beginning a brand-new life. Finally, they could see something of the great capital, Taijing.

Ye Kun found himself looking forward to what lay ahead.

Yan Mu'er felt the same. She had come straight out of the Misty Forest to find the little bald one, and hadn't yet had a chance to do any sightseeing. Her master had told her the human world was full of amusements, and she could hardly contain her eagerness.

Ye Li's purpose wasn't sightseeing. Besides the matter of making things difficult for her Kun-ge, she had more important business to attend to.

"Brother, Taixi County is quite far from Ankang Continent, isn't it?" Ye Qin asked in a low voice.

Ye Kun nodded. "The nearest ferry point is a three-day walk. With a horse, we could make it in one day."

The moment Ye Li and Yan Mu'er heard it would take three days, they felt displeased. We could get there in a few breaths if we wanted to—why must we pretend to be so ordinary?

This little bald one was really finding roundabout ways to make his wives suffer.

The two brothers promptly abandoned the idea of buying horses, for the money pouch their mother had given them was only so big.

A single horse cost a thousand gold! They were known as thousand-gold steeds!

Why didn't their family own even one horse? Because they simply couldn't afford it.

A man who could ride a horse proved he was a successful man, let alone someone with a White-Feather Steed—that required not just wealth but influence and power. Otherwise, how could a girl possibly fall for a boy leading a White-Feather Steed with one hand?

"Husband, why don't we just hire a carriage?" Yan Mu'er hugged Ye Kun's arm tightly, her voice sweet and coaxing. With such a tone, no man could possibly refuse—how could anyone bear to let such a beautiful wife suffer hardship?

Ye Qin agreed as well. "Brother, the two sisters-in-law are delicate. They can't endure a long journey on foot."

Ye Kun thought it over—they were young ladies, after all, and it really would be too tiring.

"Let's go ask about the price first."

Hearing that her husband had agreed, Yan Mu'er was delighted. So the little bald one does have some conscience after all. Ye Li was naturally pleased as well, and following Yan Mu'er's example, she wrapped herself around Ye Kun's other arm.

Ye Kun glanced at his younger brother beside him, and seeing that Ye Qin wore an unconcerned expression, he felt at ease, hoping his brother wasn't stirred to sadness by the sight.

As the Ye brothers walked out, the surrounding crowd began to cheer them on warmly. One could see just how much influence Kun-ge wielded.

Look at Kun-ge—he had only just passed his coming-of-age ceremony, and already he had two stunning wives by his side. Truly the most exceptional man in all of Taixi County!

"Kun-ge, go for it!" A child of about ten waved both hands, his face full of admiration. He too wanted to become a man like Kun-ge someday.

"Ye Kun, you are the hope of Taixi County!"

"Ye Kun, don't forget to come back and visit us..."

"Kun-ge, you have to wait for me—wait until I grow up and marry you." A seven-year-old girl gazed at Kun-ge with worship in her eyes, which made Ye Li and Yan Mu'er chuckle. The little bald one was rather popular, after all.

But everyone was calling out for Kun-ge, while Qin-ge seemed practically invisible. Yet Ye Qin was used to it—from childhood to now, all eyes had always been on his elder brother.

Ye Kun responded warmly to everyone. Who knew when they would meet again after today's parting?

And then, at that very moment, a voice caught Ye Kun's attention.

"Does anyone wish to buy this young woman?"

What a fragile, pitiful voice it was—it stirred compassion in the heart. Ye Kun and Ye Qin exchanged a look, then walked toward the source of the sound.

"Husband!"

"Husband!"

You little bald-headed man! You're already a husband with two wives! What more do you want?!

"Just looking... just looking." Ye Kun smiled.

Ye Li and Yan Mu'er were exasperated. Why was this boy so interested in a girl selling herself?

A large crowd had gathered in a circle, and in the middle stood a young woman.

When Ye Kun and Ye Qin saw her, their eyes widened with surprise. She was quite an unusual sight.

It reminded Ye Kun of when Ye Li had disguised herself as ugly—she had looked much the same.

And he wasn't the only one thinking this. Everyone present who had been there that day thought exactly the same thing. Some even wondered—could this woman also be disguising her true appearance?

"I'll buy her!" Before anyone could react, a burly man in his forties stepped forward, his eyes blazing with extraordinary brilliance!

He hadn't expected to miss his chance the other day, only to have it immediately made up for today!

No wonder he had been alone for over twenty years—heaven had merely been waiting for this very moment.

The woman hadn't expected anyone to actually buy her. She was overjoyed.

The people around her were consumed with regret. Perhaps, just like a few days ago, this was another beautiful girl who had resorted to such measures because of her stunning looks.

What a lucky brute that big man was.

"How much for the young lady?" the burly man asked excitedly.

"No charge."

A wave of exclamations rippled through the crowd—she wasn't even asking for money.

At that moment, Ye Kun muttered quietly: "I paid a whole gold coin for mine."

The moment he said it, he felt a sharp pinch at his waist. What a delightful ache that was.

Ye Li wished she could sew Ye Kun's mouth shut. Is it physically painful for you not to irritate me for even a moment?

"Brother, you were too slow." Ye Kun endured the pain and said.

"Eh... that's just fate, I suppose." Ye Qin had naturally heard the story—his brother had bought his sister-in-law at the West Market, and she too had been disguised as ugly at the time.

Hearing there was no charge, the burly man grew even more delighted, staring at the girl as if to say, Go on, transform already.

Don't be shy. I can take it.

"Husband, don't be impatient. There are too many people here."

"Right, right—too many people here. Let's go home and do the transformation there."

Watching the two walk away, Ye Qin let out a breath. Who could possibly match his elder brother's luck?

The four finally arrived at the carriage shop.

"Oh ho, if it isn't the two Young Masters Ye. My humble shop is honored by your presence. How may I be of service?" The owner was extraordinarily enthusiastic, his voice rising a pitch or two.

Ye Kun smiled. "Boss, we'd like to rent a carriage to take us to the nearest ferry point."

"Since it's Young Master Ye himself, I won't haggle—100 gold coins."

Before Ye Kun could even speak, Ye Qin cut in from the side: "50 gold coins."

The owner was secretly pleased. He had long heard that the Second Young Master of the Ye family haggled for exactly half the asking price, and seeing it in person today, the reputation was well deserved.

"That could work. Since it's Young Master Ye, 50 gold coins it is."

Ye Kun: "..."

Little brother... your bargaining reputation has already spread across all of Taixi County. Anyone you deal with will mark up their prices several times over.

"That's fairly cheap," Ye Li murmured.

"Boss's price is quite reasonable," Yan Mu'er agreed.

The owner thought to himself: the fine reputation of the Young Masters of the Ye family was going to be completely ruined by these two wives.