Thus, Ye Ziāan bade farewell to everyone once again before preparing to board the carriage, embracing his wife and son.
But just at that moment, suddenly several people rushed over from a distance.
"Great grandson, great grandson, wait a moment, wait a moment..."
Upon hearing the voice, everyone looked towards the distance, but Ye Ziāan and Yang Chuxia didnāt think the call was for them at that time, because the Ye Family didnāt have many relatives, and those they did have were distant and did not stay in touch.
Therefore, Ye Ziāan was still planning to get on the carriage.
However, those few people were approaching as if competing in a hundred-meter dash, their speed was quite fast.
Just as Ye Ziāan sat down in the carriage, those people reached them.
"I say, Ye Familyās great-grandson, how come you didnāt let your relatives know once you were placed as the runner-up in the official examination?" said a group of people, both men and women, all indistinct from one another.
"May I ask who you are?" Ye Ziāan furrowed his brows and thought, utterly clueless about who these people could be.
"Yo, Iām your great-aunt, donāt you recognize me?" a skinny old woman squeezed her way to the front quickly.
Yang Chuxia watched this group of people, clad in common attire and of ordinary appearance, yet she had never heard of any such relatives in the Ye Family.
Ye Ziāan, who was on the carriage, was also pondering which great-aunt this could be when Yang Chuxia took a couple of steps forward, "Husband, which great-aunt is this?"
As soon as she asked, the purported great-aunt shot a sharp look at her, the eyes bearing a trace of hostility, prompting Yang Chuxia to raise an eyebrow.
She thought to herself, could this person have ill intentions?
But no matter who this person was, they shouldnāt delay Brother Anās journey.
The woman who claimed to be Brother Anās great-aunt, seeing that he was not speaking, introduced herself, "Iām your grandmotherās sister-in-law from her maternal home. Your father is my nephew, donāt you remember?"
"Elder, Iām sorry, but my father never mentioned this to me."
Ye Bosheng indeed hadnāt spoken of this relative. In his recollection, the close relatives of the Ye Family had all passed away, and the distant relatives that remained did not keep in touch. Although a couple of them had approached with claims of kinship after he placed as the runner-up in the examination, their calculating nature was apparent enough that his wife had sent them away.
"Husband, time is getting late, and since your father never mentioned this matter, you should proceed on your journey now to avoid the darkness before reaching the next stopover." Saying this, she gave Brother An a look, urging him to depart while she handled the rest.
Ye Ziāan nodded, but just as he lowered the carriage curtain, suddenly a young girl burst forth. And this girl, disregarding the surprised looks of everyone, lifted the curtain and introduced herself.
"Big cousin, Iām your cousin Cao Lingling." The young lady was quite pretty, tender and delicate, but the way she gazed at Ye Ziāan was filled with soft and honeyed affection.
Damn! Yang Chuxia was instantly enragedāwas this girl flirting with her man in front of her?
"Brother Li, hurry up and drive the carriage to send the young master on his way!"
But as soon as her words fell, she saw those who had followed crowding around the carriage, making it impossible to drive away.
And that great-aunt spoke up quickly and directly, "Great-grandnephew, I am your great-aunt from the Cao Family, and my husband is your grandmotherās own brother. Iāve heard youāre now the runner-up in the examination and are about to become an official. Truly, you bring honor to your grandmother. But relatives should help each other out. Now that your family has risen in status, our old family wants to share in your good fortune. Hereās your big cousin!"
The woman then pulled forward a boy who was about the same age as Ye Ziāan, "He can follow you on your journey. Even as an official, itās good to have your own people around you. It just so happens that your cousin is literate and capable, so taking him along will help you with errands."