His face flushed and paled at her words, and Meng Shaokang chuckled sheepishly, "Mother, you... you saw it all, didn't you?"
How could she not see? The dirt clods on his backside were stuck to his damp crotch, and now they had dried, forming muddy patches.
"If you weren't so scared your legs turned to jelly, you'd have run faster than him," Wang Shi cursed with the gruff tone of a man, and snorted, "I'll go ahead and look for that child. You don't need to mind me."
With that, Wang Shi walked away with her hands behind her back, her stride jaunty. She didn't look like a woman in her fifties at all; rather, she resembled an official inspecting a rural area.
To prevent her father from failing to hunt any game, Ajiu, with great care, poured half a bowl of water from her mother's waterskin and added some wheat to soak.
This way, once the wheat softened and swelled, she could smash it with a stone to extract plenty of wheat paste. It would be easier to cook and wouldn't cause a sore throat.
"You saved me?"
Ajiu turned her head sharply. The young man on the ox cart bowed slightly before collapsing back down in pain.
"You're awake?" Ajiu's heart leaped with joy. After all, she had saved him, and she felt a sense of accomplishment.
She leaned in to look at him. The young man's dirt-streaked face was contorted with pain, and he closed his eyes, murmuring, "Little sister, you truly are the most beautiful little sister in the world."
"..." Ajiu blushed at the compliment. "You're so badly injured, and you still have the mood to praise me? It seems your injuries aren't severe? Then how did you feign death earlier?"
Ajiu was genuinely curious how he had managed to fool that young man surnamed Zheng.
"I'm clever."
That was it?
Ajiu found him rather improper. Thinking about it, everyone had been disheveled these past few days. She figured she herself was so dirty that her original skin tone was no longer visible, and she even had lice in her hair. How could he possibly see her as beautiful?
"You lie there for now. I'll make you something to eat." Ajiu turned, found a flat-surfaced river stone, and began to smash the wheat grains.
"I'm telling you now, once you're better, you'll have to find your own family. We have too little food, barely enough for ourselves."
Ajiu spoke as she worked. Today, her uncle had clearly voiced his displeasure about taking in this young man.
There was no reply from behind her. Ajiu turned to look. The young man was lying on the ox cart, using a sack as a pillow, his face devoid of any smile.
"My family? They're all dead, I suppose. I was captured the moment I woke up. I don't even know where I am. But little sister, I overheard you saying you're heading to Nanming. Is that place far?"
Ajiu was stunned. This fellow had really faked his death. Perhaps when he saw their carriage, he had deliberately chosen the right moment to play dead, knowing he would be rescued.
Come to think of it, if she hadn't saved him then, he would have woken up on his own. It was a waste of the spiritual spring water.
Her grandmother was truly amazing; she knew the man wasn't seriously injured without even looking.
"Did you starve to death?" Ajiu regained her senses, then thought that it was indeed tragic for someone's entire family to be dead.
"Perhaps."
"..." How could he not know? Fine, if he didn't want to say, he didn't have to. It was just a passing encounter, and she wasn't interested in his family affairs.
"Good sister, since you saved me, you must have the kindest heart in the world. Take me to Nanming City, won't you?"
After a long pause, the young man spoke. He looked at the little beggar squatting beside the ox cart, smashing wheat. Her eyelashes were so long, and her eyes so bright. A hint of emotion flickered within him.
Throughout his journey, all he had seen was people scrambling for their own survival, willing to abandon their kin for a chance to live, even killing their own brothers. Yet, this girl's face showed no trace of hostility.
Nor was there any fear of facing desperate circumstances. Moreover, among her family members, she was the one who had remained the most composed just now.
"Oh, right. My name is Tuoba Yan. You can call me Yan Gege or Xiao Yan Yan."
"Ah?" Ajiu turned to look at him sharply. "Xiao Yan Yan? How old are you to be called Xiao Yan Yan?"
Ajiu covered her mouth and burst into laughter, no longer bothering to smash the wheat grains.
"Twenty years old. What's wrong? Doesn't it sound cuter? Besides, when I'm clean, I'm actually quite good-looking."
"Hehe." Ajiu put down the stone, covered her mouth, and laughed until she was doubled over. Twenty years old, and cute? Ha!
"You don't believe me? I'll wash up and show you." He said, getting up and reaching for the waterskin, steadying himself with the cart frame.
"Hey!" Ajiu's scalp tingled. She snatched it away. "Are you sick? Don't you know what the situation is? You actually..."