Chapter 263: Xiaoran, Come Back!
But now, the two brothers couldn’t find them alive or dead, making them even more uneasy.
As the sky darkened, just as they were at a loss, a group of workers from the coal washing workshop finished their shift and walked toward their tents, chatting and laughing.
Seeing so many people, Yu Xiaoran quickly pulled Yu Xiaoxuan along to ask for information.
As soon as the workers heard that the brothers were looking for the three thieves caught during today’s patrol, they exchanged glances and burst into laughter, looking at the two with clear disdain.
“Hey, you two have perfectly good hands and feet, don’t you? Here we are, over ten thousand of us surviving in this barren land without starving. If you were just a bit more hardworking, would your family’s old women need to steal our master’s corn?
If you want to eat corn, go work for our master. Or at least go ask them. Our master is kind—there’s no way they’d refuse! But instead, you let them go steal? What kind of people are you?”
Hearing the group laughing, the brothers already felt uneasy. But after those words, their expressions turned even uglier!
“What nonsense are you spouting?! When did we ever tell them to steal Yu Luo’s corn?”
They knew these people were Yu Luo’s workers—everyone did. Even if the Yu family’s direct descendants hadn’t actively sought out the information, Liu Lan’s big mouth would have spread it to them sooner or later.
After being humiliated so badly by Yu Luo before, Yu Xiaoxuan was still holding onto that grudge. And now, being looked down upon again by Yu Luo’s workers only made him angrier!
The hot-blooded youth immediately lashed out, shouting at the workers with a completely different attitude than before!
But this group of laborers had numbers on their side, and some even knew martial arts. They weren’t afraid of a reckless brat like Yu Xiaoxuan.
Even though Yu Xiaoran seemed more composed, with his brother behaving like this, the coal washers immediately grabbed their tools, ready to brawl.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaoran quickly reached out and pulled Yu Xiaoxuan behind him, forcing a smile and bowing apologetically to the group.
Even a former noble son of the Yu family had learned the importance of humility in exile.
How many times had the once-proud Yu Xiaoran ever bowed his head to anyone?
But times had changed. If they got injured again, relying on their father alone, they might not even have enough supplies to survive the winter.
They couldn’t afford to get hurt. They couldn’t afford to fall.
Thinking of their current predicament, Yu Xiaoran quickly apologized, trying to ease the workers’ anger.
Seeing his efforts, the coal workers gradually calmed down.
But watching his once-proud older brother bowing to common laborers, Yu Xiaoxuan only felt more bitter inside!
Still, knowing that his brother was doing this to protect him, he held back his temper and didn’t provoke them further.
Even so, seeing his brother humble himself before Yu Luo’s people made his hatred for Yu Luo burn even deeper.
“Everyone, could you tell me where they are? I would be extremely grateful.”
Seeing that he had managed to de-escalate the situation, Yu Xiaoran wasted no time asking for their whereabouts.
“Heh, if you want to save them, go beg our master. But with the temper of that kid behind you, he’d probably just make things worse. If you know what’s good for you, you’d be careful.”
With that, the leader of the workers waved his hand, and the rest followed him away, leaving the brothers standing there in shock.
The workers continued chatting and laughing as they walked off, while the brothers remained frozen in place, their faces heavy with disbelief.
“What? What does that mean?! Grandmother and the others took a little corn from Yu Luo’s land and got caught? I—I think Yu Luo is being way too petty! No matter what, Grandmother is still her elder and Yu Haojie’s mother! How can they be so heartless?”
As the workers disappeared into the distance, Yu Xiaoxuan refused to believe what he had just heard. Even Yu Xiaoran found it hard to accept.
But when he thought about what Old Madam Chen had done to Yu Luo before, it wasn’t surprising that Yu Luo would take the opportunity to retaliate…
Besides, their grandmother had walked right into trouble herself.
If Yu Luo wanted to make an example out of her, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
Realizing this, he knew they couldn’t afford to waste any more time!
“Heh, ever since we were exiled, do you think Yu Luo ever saw Grandmother as family? She didn’t even acknowledge Grandfather, let alone Grandmother. And with what you and Grandmother did before, do you still expect her to treat you well? Come on!”
Yu Xiaoran’s expression remained cold as he mocked his brother before taking off toward Yu Luo’s city.
Despite his worry, the thought of his troublemaking grandmother soured his mood.
“Xiaoran, come back!”
Just as Yu Xiaoran dashed a few meters forward, a familiar voice called out loudly.
Still fuming from being scolded, Yu Xiaoxuan hadn’t even had time to react when he heard his mother’s voice from the distance.
At the same time, Yu Xiaoran, with his sharp hearing, also heard it.
The moment he realized his mother had come looking for them, his heart clenched with worry.
Immediately stopping in his tracks, he turned and rushed toward the direction of Chang Huilan’s voice.
There, in the dim firelight, stood Chang Huilan, holding a torch. Seeing her son return, she let out a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, this area leading to Yu Luo’s workers’ camp had fires burning at intervals to prevent unauthorized entry.
Without that, with her eyesight, she wouldn’t have been able to spot Yu Xiaoran in time.
She had only learned of the brothers’ whereabouts after running into the returning workers.
“Mother! Why are you here?”
The brothers landed beside her, their faces full of worry.
“Xiaoran, your martial arts are stronger. Listen to me—go to Pingyang City immediately. Your father has already gone to meet an old friend there. I can’t let him go alone. If you’re with him, he’ll have someone to rely on!”
“What?!”
The shocking news made both brothers’ faces change dramatically.
Seeing their stunned expressions, Chang Huilan quickly motioned for them to lower their voices!
