With a tearing sound, Ajiu ripped off two sleeves and hung them up with rope, just as she would when doing farm work. This way, her arms were exposed, but the edges of her clothes were not visible.
"This... looks like a farm woman no matter how you look at it."
"A farm woman is fine, at least she doesn't look like a refugee anymore."
What Ajiu said made sense.
But to Mao Junlan, who had been through it all, something still felt missing.
"Right!" Mao Junlan climbed onto the bed, took the bundle she had been using as a pillow, and rummaged through it, finding the familiar handkerchief.
When opened, it revealed a pair of silver bracelets. "Here, put these on. They'll make you look more dignified."
"Aren't these your dowry?" Ajiu felt embarrassed to take them.
"Dowry or not, saving people is the priority right now. If I hadn't met your family, I would have taken my two children and gone by now."
As she spoke, Mao Junlan insisted on taking Ajiu's hand and putting the bracelets on her.
Fortunately, the bracelets were adjustable, so they could be tightened if her wrists were too thin.
"There, you're all set. Go... it's almost dawn."
Ajiu wiped the exposed skin again. Her body was covered in black grime from not being washed, but the visible parts had to be cleaned.
As she stepped out, Tuoba Yan stared, his eyes wide. He had never imagined his young leader could be so ethereally beautiful.
Her face, now clean, had a bright red cinnabar mole just below her left eyelid.
It resembled a brilliant red dwarf star in the sky.
"Master..." Zhao Kun tugged at Tuoba Yan. He ignored him:
"Is this Miss Jiu?"
"You think she's beautiful too," Tuoba Yan whispered.
Old Master Niu, who had walked out of the main hall, stopped abruptly.
"The girl looks truly different when dressed up. Please, come in!"
Old Master Niu used the word "please."
He knew that this girl's grandmother was an immortal being, and her perspective was far from seeing them as mere refugees as before.
"Grandpa Niu, please use my carriage. Oxen walk too slowly. I was only concerned about getting into the city, and I'm afraid it might delay you in fetching water."
Old Master Niu, who had just entered the cowshed, thought about it and quickly retied the ox.
"Alright, the girl's consideration is thorough. We'll do as the girl says."
Little Yan Yan was quick to lead the horse out. With a few practiced moves from Zhao Kun, the horse reins were quickly secured.
Tuoba Yan then said, "Then can I be the coachman?"
"Little Yan Yan, stop fooling around. You don't know how to drive." Ajiu glanced at Tuoba Yan, signaling him not to follow.
The city was the most dangerous place for Tuoba Yan right now.
"Dallying, I'll do it."
Wang Shi emerged from the carriage and霸气ly snatched the reins from Old Master Niu.
"I'll take you to the city gate and then I'll return."
After adding this sentence, Old Master Niu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Ajiu got into the carriage and suddenly felt it was incredibly empty.
Only two pomegranates were left in the basket of modified fruits.
Did they eat them all?
Ajiu now desperately wanted to rush out, grab her grandmother's neck from behind, and shake her violently: "Did you choke to death?"
Never mind, considering he didn't know what terrible idea he had come up with that made Grandpa Niu risk his life to help, she would endure.
"Sister Ajiu, you must come back soon."
Tuoba Yan shouted from behind the carriage.
Ajiu lifted the curtain. "Remember, don't go out, don't..."
The word "kill" was cut off abruptly by Ajiu, who changed it to: "Remember my instructions. If you don't listen to me, I won't want you anymore."
Fortunately, Tuoba Yan was obedient. Otherwise, even Old Master Niu would have found it strange for a young girl to say such a thing.
A horse's legs are much longer than an ox's. Even before they started running, they had already left many of the mules and carts carrying water into the city behind.
Old Master Niu sat on the front crossbar. "Old sister-in-law, you promised. After you get your granddaughter into the city, you'll tell me."
Wang Shi frowned with disdain. "Do I look like I have the words 'I'm going to lie to you' written on my face?"
"No, you don't." Old Master Niu was filled with anticipation. Now, counting on his fingers:
"My granddaughter must be around thirteen years old, about the same age as your granddaughter."
"My granddaughter is fifteen."
As soon as Wang Shi said this, Old Master Niu was speechless. "Fifteen?"