Cai Lihua remained silent, too afraid to speak, for she had no memory and recognized no one here, fearing she might say something embarrassing.
"You're leaving?" Cai Lihua stepped forward to ask.
"Yes... Thank you, sister-in-law, for looking after us. We'll see you in Nanming City."
With that, Wu Dalei helped his wife and prepared to depart.
Zhao Di looked at A Jiu with reluctance. "Girl... Auntie thanks you, and I won't forget you."
As she spoke, tears welled in Zhao Di's eyes. If not for this girl, she and her child would have been in the netherworld.
"Hurry, go," Mrs. Wu urged her daughter-in-law, fearful.
"Please thank Brother Meng for me. Your brother will never forget his kindness," Wu Dalei called back before leaving.
A Jiu and her mother exchanged a glance at this scene.
"Alas... so be it. There are gatherings and partings. Besides, we've already reached the Nanming City territory," Cai Lihua murmured.
"Mm," A Jiu replied, looking into the darkness. Zhao Di kept glancing back every few steps.
Jiu'er also remembered the handkerchief she had given her. It was a shame; she had hoped to settle down and support Auntie in developing her silk embroidery business in the future.
"Where is Madam Wang? Weren't you traveling together?" Song Fengshou finally noticed the absence of that detestable person.
A Jiu was pulled back to reality and pointed to the roof of the carriage. "She's up there."
Song Fengshou took two steps back and looked up, his expression turning extremely unpleasant.
"What are you looking at? Do I owe you money?" Madam Wang opened her eyes and roared.
"My grandma is ill, and we were planning to find a doctor in Nanming City to examine her," A Jiu interjected to smooth things over.
Song Fengshou finally regained his footing. "No wonder she's tied up."
Indeed, Madam Wang was bound with hemp ropes and secured to the four corners of the carriage. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought she was tied up.
"Serves her right," Song Fengshou added.
A Jiu felt a thousand black lines appear on her forehead. With such a terrible reputation, she couldn't blame others for their harsh words.
"Little Jiu, let's rest here tonight. With so many people, we don't have to fear three or five vagabond soldiers or anything like that. Is that alright, sister-in-law?" Song Fengshou asked politely, looking at Cai Lihua.
"Alright. Anyway, I'm waiting for my man to return."
Cai Lihua got into the carriage and fell asleep.
A Jiu, however, was worried. The horses needed to eat, and her father wasn't here.
"Xiao Yan Yan, go get a watermelon," A Jiu said, then proceeded to untie the horse's reins, letting it relax.
"Got it."
Tuoba Yan came out carrying a watermelon, causing everyone's eyes to widen like copper bells.
Ma Dabiao and Song Fengshou stared intently.
As A Jiu led the horse to the edge of the woods, with a *splat*, the young man dropped and broke the watermelon.
The horse whinnied contentedly as it ate.
"What a sin! Feeding such a good thing to a horse."
Several elderly women couldn't stand such wastefulness.
The women's eyes were glued to the scene. "It's truly such a waste. I don't know how Meng Shaode manages his wife, to let their daughter waste things like this."
"Did it waste your family's?" Cai Lihua, although her memory wasn't as sharp as theirs, found their words unacceptable.
"Did it waste your family's? Or yours?" She pointed at the women sitting on the ground complaining, her attitude exceptionally defiant.
"Oh my, this daughter-in-law is really getting too big for her britches. Do you even have a right to speak? Why did Meng Shaode beat you senseless back then? Did you forget?" An old woman couldn't stand it.
"Whose old hag are you? How dare you speak to me like that?" Cai Lihua showed no signs of backing down.
Her daughter's actions required no one else's commentary. Impossible.