Ah Jiu thought it had to be this way.
*Hiss.* Ah Jiu glanced again. How could she see her spiritual energy? Thinking of this, she secretly tugged at the hem of her clothes to cover the water pouch.
"What are you looking at me for?"
Ah Jiu quickly averted her gaze. It seemed this old woman had a mad disease that would kill her if she didn't speak with a straight face.
The sun blazed high. The closer it got to noon, the more scorching the sun became.
Meng Shaode busied himself with arranging for everyone to stop and replenish their water.
Several people squatted on the ground, heads together, faces close, using the cow's shadow for shade, eyeing the half-bucket of water.
"Alas... drink up. Yesterday, I was afraid he wouldn't keep his word and come back, so I gave him a bucket. With that and cooking, only this half-bucket is left. And our ox needs water too, or if it dies of thirst, it will be even harder to move forward."
Meng Shaode sighed, looking with heartache at his wife and the emaciated Ah Jiu.
He always wanted to shield his wife and daughter from suffering, but looking at the road ahead, the wavering heat on the yellow earth ignited a sense of despair.
The water dipper stirred the water in the bucket with great care. Everyone's water pouches were filled, and each person drank a few sips.
Ah Jiu took the opportunity to add ordinary water, quickly stuffing the stopper in, lest her grandmother notice anything.
Nowadays, no one opposed Meng Shaode's decisions.
They deliberately left half a dipper of water for the ox.
"I can still hold on. We still have a day and two nights to travel. This water is for you and your mother. After you drink it, you two can sit on the cart's side, and I'll drive the ox."
With that, he explained nothing further, turned, and flicked the ox whip.
Cai Lihua scooped Ah Jiu up, sat on one side, looked at the water pouch in her hand, and then at her husband, who had already taken off his clothes, sweat streaming down his shoulder blades.
Moved to tears, she wondered when this would ever end.
Luo Xiuying, on the side of the carriage, glanced over and immediately lowered her head. She didn't know how her sister-in-law was so fortunate.
If it was about contributing to the Meng family, she had given birth to two sons. Her mother-in-law doted on them immensely, and she thought she would receive care, but the result was not so.
She quickened her steps. As if summoned, her mother-in-law reprimanded her husband that day. "Mother, you must be thirsty. Drink my water."
The old woman on the cart still didn't open her eyes, snorting coldly, "Stop flattering me. Living as a dependent is your own doing. I don't even want to look at a woman like you who has no backbone."
"..." Luo Xiuying's pupils contracted. Startled, she quickly lowered her head, "Mother, what do you mean by that? Your daughter-in-law doesn't understand."
Ah Jiu understood this remark and subconsciously looked at the old woman behind her.
She happened to open her eyes and took out a glistening green ring from her embrace.
"What are you looking at? How can such a treasure be coveted by an ordinary mortal like you?"
"Ah Jiu, ignore her. She's crazy. Your father said he'd find a doctor to examine her later." Cai Lihua couldn't bear for her daughter to suffer even half a word of harsh criticism.
"Mm." She realized she had seen this green ring at the Li family's mansion in her previous life. It was very valuable.
*De de de de,* a burst of hoofbeats shattered the dry land, dust flying.
Everyone was so scared they held their breath, turning their heads sharply, their souls scattered.
"Oh no, hurry! Those people are catching up!" Meng Shaokang exclaimed, his voice cracking.
Meng Nanxing had no strength left. His legs gave way, and he almost fell. He swung his arms and straightened his legs, mustering all his strength to run ahead of the ox cart.
Meng Shaode gritted his teeth and glared at the old ox. Cai Lihua tightly hugged Ah Jiu, her body trembling.
The ox's hooves could not match the speed of horses. Before they had gone half a *li*, the *de de de* of hoofbeats dispersed around the carriage.
They immediately forced the ox cart to a halt.
"Ah Jiu, don't be afraid, don't be afraid, oh, don't be afraid..." Cai Lihua held her daughter tightly.
Ah Jiu recognized the leader as the young man surnamed Zheng her father had spoken of.
"I asked my father. The person who helped him was not you, but the wealthy landowner from the Li family. Meng Shaode, how dare you lie to me."
The young man surnamed Zheng dismounted and casually walked forward, swinging his broad shoulders. Ah Jiu then noticed a boy on the horse's back, bleeding profusely, his life or death unknown.
The young man surnamed Zheng tucked his horsewhip into his waist and strode forward.
Meng Shaode's legs trembled. He swallowed a mouthful of saliva and turned to comfort his wife and child, his smile visibly pale, his lips twitching incessantly.