Scumbag Chapter 141 The Reformed White-Eyed Wolf General (7)

When meeting with his old brothers, Mingting thumped his chest and assured them that as long as he had meat to eat, they’d have wine to drin

When meeting with his old brothers, Mingting thumped his chest and assured them that as long as he had meat to eat, they’d have wine to drink.

Mingting was willing to pull them up, and they were thrilled.

According to superstitious beliefs, someone like Mingting, who had survived life-and-death battles, weathered countless battlefields, yet remained lively and kept rising through the ranks, must have an overwhelming fiery aura. (T/N: Fiery aura means a sign of great fortune and vitality.)

Following such a leader was sure to lead to great achievements.

Of the original brothers, only forty-some remained, and they all vowed to follow Mingting’s lead from then on.

"Brother, I  have a few harsh words to say upfront." After drinking a whole jar of wine, Mingting’s eyes turned red.

“This time, when we go to Yaozhou, I’ll be enforcing new military orders. As the saying goes, ‘Military orders are as unshakable as a mountain’. Even if it’s my own brother, mistakes will be punished. If anyone delays military operations, there’ll be no leniency… that’s the first rule."

“Second, all you brothers know that I’m twenty-four now. All these years, I’ve been running around outside, and it’s been my wife managing things at home. Thanks to my in-laws’ support, we never ran out of supplies. So, my wife and her family are my top priority. I’d appreciate it if you all showed them respect… I’ll thank you for it!"

“Third, we used to be bandits. Now we’re eating the Emperor’s grain, serving as officials. Just because our status has changed doesn’t mean we can abandon our wives who’ve weathered hardships with us. Our sisters-in-law have suffered a lot, enduring fear and uncertainty alongside us… we can’t be heartless."

“I’m laying it out here today. In the future, I’ll have plenty of military merits to distribute. Any brother who treats his wife well and maintains a harmonious marriage, I’ll favor more. If any of you have difficulties at home, I’ll do my best to help."

“Of course, if it’s my sister-in-law who does something wrong, I wouldn't let my brother down for the sake of an outsider!"

Seeing that even as a Count, Mingting still spoke bluntly and straightforwardly, just like he did back in the mountains, everyone readily agreed.

They had originally come together through brotherhood and loyalty, and now that Mingting, as their leader, was still so principled and righteous, it resonated deeply with them.

"My wife is a female demon, how would I dare mistreat her?!"

“Hahaha! Du Xiao’er is a coward scared of his wife! My wife, on the other hand, is gentle and considerate… She’s exactly to my liking..."

The group drank from day till night before staggering home.

Some loose-lipped ones went back and immediately repeated Mingting’s words to their wives.

When the women heard this, they praised Mingting as a good man. After all, even as a Count, he still remembered his brothers.

What’s more, his firm stance on protecting the interests of lawful wives made them deeply grateful.

Since thesewomen had known each other through their husbands and had good relationships, Mingting’s words quickly spread through this small circle of former bandits’ wives.

"Let's follow them! Let’s all go to Yaozhou together!"

The eldest of the sisters advised the others.

“What are we here in the capital? In Yaozhou, with the Count keeping an eye on things, our lives will definitely be better than here. Besides, aren’t you afraid your men might get rich and take concubines? Even the Count can’t stop that if it happens!"

"Sister Sun is right, I’ll go."

“I’m heading to Yaozhou too. After all these years of suffering, now that it’s time to enjoy life, I won’t give anyone else a chance to slip in."

So, the wives began packing their belongings in large bundles.

Originally, some men had hoped that their wives wouldn’t follow them, thinking it’d be easier to drink and feast without them around. As a result, they were immediately met with furious reprimands, so they quickly backed down.

After hearing what Mingting said, both Huiniang and Liu Huangshi couldn't stop laughing.

“These sisters-in-law have suffered as much as you have over the years. In the future, you can spend more time with them… they’re good people, honest and kind. If we ever set sail overseas, they’ll be our stable, united home front."

“Husband, don’t worry, leave it to me."

Huiniang smiled, gently touching her belly.

She had originally worried that in Yaozhou, with no acquaintances, she’d be stuck at home with nothing to do. She never expected so many women would be coming along.

With them around, whether chatting or doing needlework, she’d always have company.

Who knows… they might even be able to help her husband if something big came up!

While Mingting was busy in the capital preparing for the move to Yaozhou, Jin Yuping, who was far away in Tongzhou, suddenly woke from a dream.

Cough, cough…

Jin Yuping opened her eyes and looked at the narrow and dilapidated house. For a moment, she couldn’t recognize where she was.

She had lived to the ripe old age of 88, surrounded by children and grandchildren. Her son became the Marquis of Dingyuan, and she was the old lady of the Marquis’s Mansion that everyone envied.

How had she suddenly ended up here?

"Miss, you’re finally awake!"

When Xiao Huan entered the room, she was very happy to see Jin Yuping wake up.

Seeing the young Xiao Huan, Jin Yuping was a little surprised, ‘Hadn’t Xiao Huan died long ago?’

She had married Xiao Huan off to one of Wei Mingting’s squad leaders, but after her husband died in battle, Xiao Huan had succumbed to grief and passed away.

“Xiao Huan, how did you become so young?"

Jin Yuping reached out to touch Xiao Huan’s face, but she froze when she saw her own hand. She saw that the skin on her hands was tight and there were no age spots, completely unlike an elderly woman’s.

Soon, she found that she had returned to her youth and was so excited that she almost cried.

"Give me a mirror, I need to see…"

Jin Yuping tried to get out of bed, but her legs softened and she collapsed weakly to the floor.

‘In my memories, I had never been this sickly. What was happening?’

“Miss, be careful!” Xiao Huan quickly helped Jin Yuping back into bed.

“A cold isn’t easy to recover from! You’ve just woken up, how can you get out of bed? You need to rest properly, or it might turn into consumption!"

After seeing her own young but pale face in the mirror and drinking the bitter medicine, Jin Yuping finally realized that she had been reborn to the darkest time of her life, when Shi Jing had been thrown into prison.

‘Why does Heavens play such a cruel joke on me?’

‘I had been given a chance to start over, so why did I have to suffer all over again?’

"Where is Wei Mingting? Where is he?"

Jin Yuping suddenly thought of the most important thing.

Her parents-in-law and her own parents had all died in the chaos of war, and her husband, who was an official of the previous dynasty, had been imprisoned.

In her past life, it was at this very moment that Xiao Huan had brought Wei Mingting back. Jin Yuping still remembers the look in the eyes of that horse slave.

It was a gaze burning with suppressed longing, pity, and regret, all tangled together in a complicated mess.

Jin Yuping was certain that as long as Wei Mingting was here, she wouldn’t have to suffer.

"Miss, are you talking about that horse slave? He rode in on a tall, majestic horse… so imposing!"

Xiao Huan had grown up by Jin Yuping’s side and knew about the horse slave’s unrequited love for her mistress, which had ended with him being beaten and driven away.

Earlier, when the horse slave had joined the rebel army, Jin Yuping had even mocked him, saying he was born with a rebellious streak, daring to join a rebellion… he’d surely be executed.

Who could have guessed the world would turn upside down? Now, her mistress was a fallen phoenix, while that former horse slave had risen to become a man of power.

"Where is he? Did he go to fetch a physician for me?"

Jin Yuping was brimming with confidence.

"Miss, he didn’t even recognize me." Xiao Huan lowered her head, "I begged him to save you, but he drove me away."

"What?!"