booktalesy Chapter 32 Extends Life by 1 Year
Chapter 32 Extends Life by 1 Year
The matter had been settled, so Zhou did not keep him any longer.
Chen Ye wisely prepared to leave.
Before leaving, Madam Zhou glanced at the table and instructed, "Don't talk about things that happen in the manor outside. Don't cause trouble for yourself."
"Don't worry, Madam, I know what's important."
After saying that, Chen Ye turned around and retreated from the hall to the door.
At the end of the corridor, Chen Ye was about to step out of the courtyard when he suddenly heard a series of light footsteps behind him.
A little boy, about four or five years old, ran out from the side hall and, with red eyes, bumped into Zhou's arms.
"Mother, did Uncle really kill Father?"
Chen Ye paused slightly.
He turned his head and saw Zhou squat down and put her arm around the child's shoulder.
She didn't answer, but gently pressed the child's head against her shoulder.
She spoke after a moment, her voice much softer than when she had spoken to Chen Ye earlier.
"From now on, it will just be the three of us, mother and daughter, relying on each other for survival in this mansion."
The five-year-old child bit his lip, and two lines of tears flowed silently down his face.
He straightened his back and said, "Mother, don't worry, my brother and I will protect you. No one will dare to bully you."
"Good boy."
Zhou held the child in her arms, rested her chin on his head, and gazed at a patch of flowers and plants in the yard.
Chen Ye withdrew his gaze, no longer lingering to look around, and turned to walk out of the courtyard.
The child broke free from Zhou's embrace, rubbed his eyes, and glanced outside.
All I could see was the silhouette of blood-stained clothes receding into the distance, utterly unremarkable.
He looked up and asked, "Mother, who is that person?"
Mrs. Zhou stood up, took the child's hand, and watched the figure that had disappeared outside the courtyard.
"Mother might need a smart person in the future."
……
Chen Ye walked out of the hall and waited outside the Feng family ancestral hall for a while before seeing Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang come out of the dungeon.
The two men were emaciated and pale; the torture in the dungeon had left them unrecognizable.
They were unaware of what had happened within the Feng family in the past two days, and when they were dragged out of the dungeon, they thought today was their death day.
It wasn't until she saw Chen Ye's straight figure that she realized she had been rescued.
"Brother Zuo, and this brother, they're alright now."
Although Chen Ye's clothes were tattered and stained with blood, he was in good spirits, and his eyes shone with a sharp light, leaving a deep impression.
Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang exchanged a glance. Even if they were slow to realize, they understood that their survival in the dungeon was inextricably linked to the young man before them.
Su Guang glanced at the Feng family's servants, who had already gathered all his personal belongings and placed them here.
Although no one said it, he knew he had been kicked out.
However, he wasn't too sad; instead, he felt a sense of relief that he had survived.
He bowed deeply to the ground and said, "I will never forget your great kindness, young brother."
Chen Ye reached out and took his arm, saying, "Brother Su, there's no need for that. A man's knees are worth more than gold. If it weren't for your help that day, I might not have been able to succeed so smoothly. Let's talk about it outside the manor."
Led by a servant of the Feng family, the three quietly left the mansion through the back door.
Zuo Dongxi had been working with the caravan for over a decade, having been stabbed and tricked people, and was known for his loyalty.
But today, for the first time, he felt like he was worthless.
The reason Chen Ye was dragged into the mess by the Feng family was so that someone could shield him if something went wrong.
As it turned out, the person he used as a shield ended up saving his life.
He had previously thought that Chen Ye was just using him.
In retrospect, I was judging others by my own petty standards.
After he came out of the back door, he stopped and blocked Chen Ye's path, saying, "Brother, I won't thank you for your great kindness. If you ever need my help in the future, I'll do anything for you, even if it means going through fire and water."
"You're too kind, Chief Zuo." Chen Ye glanced at him but didn't say anything more.
Su Guang happened to be nearby, so Zuo Dongxi immediately said, "Tonight I'll be hosting a dinner in a private room at Fengqing Restaurant. It will just be the three of us. Please do me the honor of joining us."
After surviving a brush with death, the three immediately agreed and arranged to meet at Fengqing Tower that evening.
After Zuo Dongxi finished speaking, he hurriedly headed towards the direction of the patrol caravan, while Su Guang also returned to his residence first.
Chen Ye returned to the car dealership alone.
As soon as he entered the lobby, several of his acquaintances stared wide-eyed in astonishment and hurriedly ran to the back courtyard of the car.
"Steward Shen, Chen Ye is back!"
Shen Chongsan was doing chores when he heard this and looked up in surprise.
He had already heard about what had happened at the Feng residence.
In his view, these insignificant people with no background who waded into the murky waters of the Feng family mansion were almost certain to lose their lives.
How did this little guy manage to come out unharmed?
He put down his work and strode out, where he saw Chen Ye, whom he hadn't seen for several days.
Chen Ye cupped his hands and said, "Manager Shen, this escort mission has been fraught with difficulties and has caused many delays. I am truly sorry."
Shen Chongsan glanced at him and sighed, "It's good that you're alright."
"I heard that you defended our dealership's reputation back then. Come with me to see the owner and see what he has to say."
Thank you for your trouble.
Shen Chongsan led Chen Ye to the main house they had been in before, and went in alone, leaving Chen Ye to wait outside.
Unlike last time, Shen Chongsan stayed longer this time.
Chen Ye stood at the door and could vaguely hear some arguing noises, which lasted for quite a while.
After a while, Shen Chongsan came out from inside with a complicated expression.
When he saw Chen Ye again, he hesitated for a moment, then finally shook his head: "I'm sorry, young man. The boss doesn't want to get involved in this trouble."
Shen Chongsan smiled bitterly and continued, "He told me to settle your wages for this month and find another way to make a living."
Chen Ye had anticipated this outcome and said politely, "I'm grateful for Steward Shen's help these past few days. Such is fate; I can't blame anyone else."
Shen Chongsan waved his hand, said nothing more, and led him to the accountant to settle the payment.
To Chen Ye's slight surprise, the reward, which was originally only about one tael, was increased by two taels.
According to Shen Chongsan, this was considered extra compensation for him.
At the same time, Shen Chongsan handed over a brand new wooden plaque.
This is his official identification document, which the car dealership issued to him a few days ago.
"You'll be on your own in the capital from now on." Shen Chongsan patted his shoulder and sighed, "I can still give you a few more days of accommodation. You can move out once you find a suitable place."
"I will always remember Manager Shen's kindness."
Back in his familiar home, Chen Ye couldn't help but feel a sense of relaxation.
He closed the door, placed the silver and his identification on the table, and then took out ten gold leaves from his pocket.
This was given to him by Zhou from his private treasury.
A single gold leaf is equivalent to ten taels of silver.
Ten pieces equal one hundred taels.
Chen Ye's mind stirred, and he summoned the pawn system, the familiar interface appearing before his eyes.
Name: Chen Ye
[Current Martial Art: Qi Cultivation Technique (Perfected)]
[Realm: Rebirth (Part Two)]
[Current life expectancy: 2 months and 13 days.]
As of now, he should have 1,046 days left, or three years, of his lifespan that he has not yet redeemed.
The hundred taels I have are enough to redeem my money for a year.
Chen Ye took out nine gold leaves and a few pieces of silver, palm facing up.
The gold and silver melted away silently, and the system panel immediately changed.
[Current life expectancy: 1 year, 2 months, and 13 days.]
Chen Ye looked at the numbers on the screen and let out a long sigh.
At least for the foreseeable future, there's no need to worry about lifespan.