"That's enough," Ah Jiu said, her face still stinging from the night's events. "You must be careful today and absolutely not speak carelessly. You absolutely cannot let anyone know you killed someone today."
Otherwise, the unusual case would instantly fall upon Tuoba Yan himself.
"Mhm, mhm, mhm, little sister Ah Jiu, don't worry," Tuoba Yan had to be obedient right now.
As she spoke, Ah Jiu quietly entered the house and lay down beside Auntie Li to sleep.
"Little sister Ah Jiu isn't going to send me away?" Tuoba Yan thought, too excited to sleep all night, waiting for the first hint of dawn.
By the time Auntie Li woke up, he had already fetched Grandpa Niu's old ox and was organizing the cart.
"Xiao Yan, where are you going?" Auntie Li glanced at the thick pile of dry grass on the cart.
When Ah Jiu emerged from the house, yawning groggily, her father and mother were already awake.
"I've grown some fruit. I'm having Tuoba Yan take it into the city to exchange for some grain."
Ah Jiu said this, pulling her parents closer.
Meanwhile, Zhao Kun had already accompanied Tuoba Yan on his way.
"Auntie, Father, Mother, I made a decision last night. It's rained now, hasn't it? I plan to exchange some military provisions for seeds. Since we're here now, we can't waste time."
Ah Jiu explained her plan.
Cai Lihua's eyes finally lit up. "Daughter, that's a great idea. If we harvest grain in the future, I can make all sorts of food, and maybe even sell it in the city for money."
"Yes, yes, daughter, you haven't truly experienced your mother's cooking yet. She can make all sorts of variations from one ingredient."
Meng Shaode was happy to see his wife's spirits were much better today than yesterday.
"And if we can really exchange for some grain, then we aren't staying here for nothing. When Grandpa Niu returns, we can leave some for him too."
Mao Junlan didn't consider herself an outsider. After traveling together, they had unknowingly become a family.
"Right, Auntie is exactly right. Grandpa Niu is old. If he can adopt a granddaughter someday and bring her back, she'll need food too, won't she."
Ah Jiu was also reminded of this.
"Then we'll listen to our daughter. Anyway, Mother knows how to farm, and your father is strong and can plow the land." Cai Lihua's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"Miss Ah Jiu," Tongzi, who had been quiet since arriving, said with a melancholic air.
"When are we going back to the city? I'm worried Sister Cai'er will be heartbroken when she returns."
Ah Jiu understood him. His heart was filled with thoughts of Hualian Medical Hall and the Liu family, after all, they had saved his life and raised him.
"Don't worry. Xiao Yan is serving in the army in the city. I'll tell him to pass on any news to you as soon as he gets it. I don't know the specific situation of the refugees in the city right now. It won't be too late to go back when things are peaceful."
"Oh." Tongzi lowered his head, appearing lost.
"Father, Mother, we'll make do with watermelon for now. I believe we'll have grain to eat before long."
Ah Jiu said, getting up and heading to the kitchen. She had instructed yesterday that the large baskets were for exchanging for grain, and the small ones were to be kept for sustenance.
Meng Shaode reminded her, "Jiu'er, your mother had another bout of diarrhea last night. We can't eat watermelon today. Father will go up the mountain to see if there's any wild game."
After giving instructions, Meng Shaode looked at Tongzi. "You look about seventeen or eighteen. You can't be idle. The more idle you are, the more you'll dwell on things. Come, let's go up the mountain together and see if we can catch some rabbits."
"Oh." Tongzi's interest waned in everything except Hualian Medical Hall.
He agreed, however, and followed Meng Shaode out of the mountain with his head bowed, listlessly.
Ah Jiu, with Tiedan and Tiemao, took out and cut open the few watermelons that had cracked from spoilage.
Shiliu and Taozi each got one.
"Jiu'er, we've relied on you so much on this journey." Mao Junlan stared at the peach in her hand. "Sigh... if we had met you earlier, perhaps Old Li wouldn't have been captured."
"Auntie, don't overthink it. Look how much Tiemao resembles Uncle Li," Ah Jiu said, unable to find other words of comfort.
Mao Junlan's eyes, which were about to well up with tears, fell on Tiemao's face. A smile bloomed on her lips. "He really does, he looks very much like him. Tiedan takes after my square face."
"Ah Jiu, come up the mountain with Mother." Cai Lihua found Grandpa Niu's bamboo basket from somewhere, with a sickle placed inside.
"What are we going up the mountain for?" Ah Jiu's mind flashed back to the scene of burying the body last night.