Exile? A mad, wicked woman empties the national treasury to escape famine.

The closer they got, the louder the laughter grew, and Da Mao felt increasingly uneasy.

Damn it, his house was robbed clean last night, and these people are here laughing and joking today. What does that mean?

Is this mocking him?

He quickened his pace and soon arrived near Ji Yunshu and her group.

Seeing that the river was densely packed with people, all desperately trying to strike the surface, Da Mao frowned and gripped the whip tighter and tighter.

He's been here for so long, and these people are acting like they don't even see him, not even greeting him?

Are they all blind?

He raised the whip in his hand, but before he could strike it, a figure appeared in front of him in a few steps.

Ji Yunshu stood in front of Da Mao, and before Da Mao could get angry, she spoke directly:

"Lord Mao has returned from his work with everyone. They've really worked hard."

By the way, Mr. Da Mao, I managed to catch some fish in the river yesterday, and I asked Mr. Er Mao to take two back with me. I'll cook them for you. I wonder how they taste?

It just so happens that Mr. Er Mao also came by today, and I asked him to help me sell some fish in the city. In return, I gave Mr. Er Mao two particularly fat fish to take back.

"Second Master Mao has been gone for quite a while now. If Fourth Master Mao were to return now, it would probably be time to eat."

Ji Yunshu spoke with a faint smile throughout.

Seeing her expression, Da Mao suddenly found himself unable to vent his anger.

It's said that you can't hit a smiling face, so when Ji Yunshu spoke to him with such a smile, he found it hard to get angry.

Da Mao suppressed his anger, his face still chillingly cold:

"I ate the fish yesterday, and it tasted good, but what exactly are you all trying to do by gathering here all day?"

This is a place of exile, not a place for you to play house.

Did I not say that those of you who are not going to work should stay at home and not go anywhere else? Look at all of you, gathered together, what kind of scene is this?

Those who don't know better might think there's some great joyous occasion. This is exile; remember your place!

Faced with Ji Yunshu's smiling face, Da Mao was momentarily speechless with anger. However, the thought of his house being burgled yesterday, and these people having spent the whole day here laughing and joking, made him feel suffocated.

I've been wanting to find an excuse to deal with these people for a while now.

Before Da Mao could finish speaking, Aunt Zhu limped up from behind and interrupted before Ji Yunshu could speak:

"That's right, Ji Yunshu, if you can't make a living like this, you should go home and stay there. The officials have said that people who don't go to work can only stay at home. But you two are going to the mountains and the water!"

What? Do you think this place of exile is your backyard?! And you've organized so many people to gather here! What are you trying to do?

You seem to have forgotten that this exile area is under the jurisdiction of the powerful official. If you do this, everyone's mind will wander off like you, and who will be in the mood to work?!

If no one goes to work, how will the bigwig officials manage things?

If the higher-ups blame us, what are you going to say to the big official?

I think you're deliberately causing trouble for that big Mao official!

At this point, Aunt Zhu paused. The thought of how they had worked all day and were exhausted, only to receive a little food in return, while Ji Yunshu was leading everyone to fish here, made her feel nauseous. Why was that?

"I think everyone in your family should be busy tomorrow. Anyone who can move, anyone with hands and feet, should go to work. Once you've done work, you'll all behave yourselves!"

If we have to suffer, we should all go together. Why should they have to work and only get a little food in return for the whole day, while Ji Yunshu can lead everyone to catch delicious fish here?

This is unfair! This is absolutely unfair!

Especially after they got home, the aroma of fish wafting from other people's homes made their mouths water.

The food I eat at the construction site during the day feels like I haven't eaten at all; my stomach feels completely empty.

She's been eating more these days. She finished all the steamed buns and water that were given to her at work today, but she still wasn't full. Now she feels hungry again.

If Lord Mao really could get Ji Yunshu and her family to work as well, that would make things much easier!

After she finishes her work, when she comes back, she can run faster and catch fish in the pond where Ji Yunshu and the others live!

By then, I'll have my own legs and feet. As long as I run fast and get there sooner, Ji Yunshu and the others won't be able to do anything to me!

Yes, that's it!

Tell the official to take Ji Yunshu and the others to work as well, and not leave anyone at home!

Aunt Zhu became more and more pleased with herself. Da Mao was in a bad mood today, and he might agree with her if he got angry!

Just as she was about to say something more, Ji Yunshu shot her a sharp glare.

"Aunt Zhu, you have a foul mouth. Lord Mao is standing here and he hasn't said anything, but you interrupt."

Compared to your identity, it seems you've forgotten your own identity!

You're just an exiled prisoner, what? You want to stand up for the big boss? I think the one who should recognize his own place is you!

Why don't you take a piss and look at yourself in the mirror to see your current state of mind?

"This is between me and Lord Mao. If you utter another word, believe me, I'll force-feed you some more of that medicine to cure your foul breath."

"Ji Yunshu, you...!" Aunt Zhu was so angry she could barely speak. She glared at Ji Yunshu through gritted teeth, and just as she was about to say something more, Da Mao impatiently shouted from the side:

"Enough! Isn't it chaotic enough already?!"

He was very upset at the moment. The noise around him was giving him a headache. All he could think about was the things that had been stolen from him and his wallet!

That was his hard-earned savings since he came to this place of exile!

In total, he had several dozen taels of silver. As long as he had that silver, he could live a happy and carefree life for the rest of his days!

But now...

They're gone, all of them are gone!

He was already annoyed, and then he heard Aunt Zhu chattering away in his ear, which made him even more annoyed.

After being glared at by Da Mao, Aunt Zhu could only purse her lips and say nothing more.

Da Mao composed himself, turned to look at Ji Yunshu, and maintained his usual businesslike demeanor:

"Although Aunt Zhu's words are unpleasant, they are not without reason. This is a place of exile, and we cannot tolerate such a noisy gathering. People who don't know the situation will think there is some great celebration here. If this causes trouble, I won't be able to explain it to my superiors. How about this, starting tomorrow..."