Chapter 34: She Accepted It

Chapter 34: She Accepted It

In the early morning, Hong Xiaoduo woke up naturally. Looking at the bright daylight, she couldn't quite figure it out. Given her current state, even if no child had woken up crying from a nightmare last night, she shouldn't have slept this soundly, right?

She hadn't even dreamed? Just how carefree was her mind?

Tilting her head to look at the neatly folded bedding on the bunks, she thought, *Eh? Am I even less disciplined than a group of children now? Am I this much of a sleepyhead?*

"Mother, you're awake?" Just as Hong Xiaoduo sat up, she saw Yao Guang sitting on a small stool, calling out to her happily.

Before Hong Xiaoduo could respond, she saw Yao Guang stand up and run toward the door, immediately anticipating the next scene.

"Brother, Mother is awake," Yao Guang reported to the person outside as she opened the door.

Immediately following, just like the day before, Tian Xuan entered carrying water for washing, and Yu Heng approached with the wooden comb that Hong Xiaoduo had just bought the previous afternoon.

As soon as Hong Xiaoduo lowered her legs, Kai Yang briskly came over to place her shoes by her feet, and Tian Quan immediately grabbed the shoes to climb onto the bunk to tidy her bedding.

The group of little ones worked with a clear division of labor, as if they had undergone professional training.

For some reason, Hong Xiaoduo couldn't help but think that the reason they were like this was likely not just to repay or please her, but also for a less pleasant reason: they had probably learned this way of serving while being around that wicked man previously.

Feeling a pang of heartache, she leaned forward, insisting on putting on her own shoes while forcing a smile onto her face; otherwise, they might overthink and wonder if they had done something wrong to make her unhappy.

Thinking that she had already overslept and the children must be hungry, she hurried to wash up.

"Mother, we've checked everything. Nothing was left behind; it's all loaded onto our cart," Tian Quan said quickly when he saw Hong Xiaoduo looking toward the bunks.

Hong Xiaoduo nodded and led them out of the room to the counter to pay the room fee.

"If you aren't in a hurry to make your way, you can stay here for a few more days. I wouldn't even charge you room fees; there aren't many guests anyway, so it's just sitting empty," Granny Lanhua said, sounding quite reluctant, knowing they were leaving this morning.

Although they had only been in contact for two days, Granny Lanhua truly liked this group of one adult and seven children.

They were good-looking, sweet-talkers, sensible, and hardworking. They woke up early every day and even helped clean the inn.

"Grandmother, we might meet again if there's an opportunity in the future," Hong Xiaoduo said. After saying this, she tucked away the change provided by the shopkeeper, thanked him again, and wished him prosperous business.

Walking to the door, she didn't see Tian Shu. Remembering something, she walked toward the stables and found him there, feeding fodder to the donkey.

"Tian Shu, let's go. Let's eat breakfast first," Hong Xiaoduo called out. She watched as Tian Shu responded to her while constantly looking back at the donkey cart with great concern.

After taking the seven little ones to the noodle shop next to the inn for braised noodles, she bought sesame pancakes at a roadside stall on the way out, along with a stack of meat pies to eat on the road.

The little ones held them happily, jogging ahead with Tian Shu back to the inn's stables.

Standing before the donkey cart, Hong Xiaoduo looked inside the carriage and felt a wave of emotion. Clearly, she was the adult and should be looking after these seven children, but in reality, it seemed they were doing most of the work, leaving her with nothing to worry about.

Looking inside the carriage, the various small items they had prepared the day before and their newly bought cotton clothes were arranged neatly without looking cluttered; they didn't interfere with sitting and could even serve as backrests.

The tent they bought yesterday was tied securely to the rear of the carriage, so there was no worry about it falling off during the journey.

"Alright, get in the cart," Hong Xiaoduo said. She first lifted Yao Guang up, while the other children climbed up using a small stool.

"Mother, why aren't you getting in?" Seeing that she wasn't boarding, Tian Shu asked in confusion, then added, "Mother, you should sit up there, it's fine. I'll walk and drive the cart; I won't get in."

See? If she hesitated even slightly about anything, they would immediately start overthinking. Why?

"It's not that I'm afraid it can't pull us. Didn't the owner of the carriage shop say our combined weight is still far below its capacity? It's just that since we just bought it, I'll walk alongside it for a bit to be safe," Tian Shu understood immediately. His mother was worried he wasn't experienced enough at driving, and since they didn't know the donkey's temperament, she wanted to walk alongside so she could intervene if the donkey lost control or became disobedient.

"Did you fill the water skins?" Hong Xiaoduo couldn't help but ask.

They had bought three water skins the day before to carry water with them, as finding water sources on the road wouldn't always be convenient.

Tian Shu nodded immediately, saying they were all full.

"Then let's set off," Hong Xiaoduo said with a smile, signaling him to close the carriage door. Tian Shu also nodded with a smile, excitedly shaking the reins. The donkey, being quite intelligent, lifted its hooves and moved forward. A donkey cart didn't look as grand as a horse carriage, but it was quite stable.

Granny Lanhua and her son stood by the roadside, waving and wishing them a safe journey.

"Mother, actually, you should have bought a horse to ride," Tian Shu said as they walked.

Hong Xiaoduo glanced at him and said, "You kept nagging about buying the cheapest cotton clothes, and now you want to buy a horse? A single horse costs over ten taels of silver. However, once my purse gets a bit thicker, I will."

Well, she would certainly never admit that she hadn't dared to buy one because she wasn't sure if she could ride a horse.

It wasn't that she liked walking or didn't mind the fatigue; it was just that since the donkey cart was new, she felt a bit uneasy. She planned to walk for another mile or two before sitting in the carriage.

As they were nearly out of the town, someone called out from behind, "Miss Hong, wait a moment!"

Tian Shu pulled the reins, and he and Hong Xiaoduo both looked back. It was a young man dressed as a servant, someone they didn't recognize.

The man quickly reached them and handed her a brocade pouch: "My master is Dong Yuefan. He said the young lady is aware of him. Because of urgent matters, he could not come personally to see you off, so he sent me to deliver this. He says that meeting is fate and asks that you please accept it.

My master also said that if the young lady is not in a hurry, try to find a place to rest early during the day, and try to stick to official roads. Do not be tempted to take those remote mountain paths."

Hong Xiaoduo smiled and reached out to take the pouch. It was heavy; she didn't even need to look to know it likely contained silver. "Please thank Brother Dong for me. Tell him that if fate allows, we shall meet again. Also, wish him a bright future and a smooth official career. And thank you, young man, for your hard work in making this trip."

Why say "again"? Because the man had already provided the greatest help possible.

After speaking, Hong Xiaoduo turned and began to walk.

The servant watched her turn away, then looked down at his own empty hands. He looked up again, somewhat incredulous. Shouldn't she have been a bit more polite, perhaps declined first, and then accepted?

Seeing the servant's reaction, Tian Shu quickly turned around as well and continued driving the donkey.

After walking a few steps, he stole a glance at Hong Xiaoduo. Her expression was perfectly normal!

Meanwhile, in Dong Yuefan's residence, he was grumbling to himself as he watched his good brother, who had already finished packing but had not left on horseback immediately.

If he had known, he would have gone to see off Little Sister Xiaoduo first.

"San Jin, where is he?" Dong Yuefan looked at the several guards holding horses around him; it seemed one was missing, and he had no idea where he had gone.

His good brother had come with several guards, and usually, they stayed in the adjacent courtyard and ate separately. They were about to leave, so why was one missing? Had they become lax and developed bad habits from being left to their own devices these days?

Or had he found a lover in town? Heh, hadn't his good brother always boasted that his subordinates had no lustful tendencies? Yet, here was one who couldn't even control his own belt!

Before he could get a response from his friend, the servant he had sent to see off Little Sister Xiaoduo returned.

Seeing him return empty-handed, Dong Yuefan immediately laughed, "Well, look at you! What did you say? She just accepted it?"

"Hmph, anyone who turns down silver delivered to their door is a fool," Mu Zitao said, looking at him as if he were an idiot.

Dong Yuefan rolled his eyes at him and continued looking at his own servant.

Having heard his master's friend's words, the servant looked at his master, unsure of how to respond appropriately, because telling the truth seemed to confirm what Young General Mu had just said.

"I only said what my master instructed; I didn't say anything else," the servant said, looking at his master. Ultimately, he didn't dare lie.

Others might not understand, but as a personal servant, he knew his master's temperament better than anyone. It was fine to make minor mistakes, but if he were to be "clever" and lie, his master would not be lenient once he found out.

"See, this is someone who matches my temperament! If you want it, take it; if you don't, don't. Being straightforward is much better," Dong Yuefan said, very pleased.

"Mm, as long as you are happy, Master Dong. I shall take my leave. Before I go, a word of advice: if you want to return to the capital as soon as possible, you must be as well-behaved as before. Do not act recklessly or follow your whims anymore."

Watching his subordinate San Jin waiting by the door, Mu Zitao gave his friend this warning before walking out.

His subordinates, holding the horses, followed closely behind him.

Watching the group mount their horses and gallop away, Dong Yuefan covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve to shield himself from the dust kicked up by the hooves. He waited for his friend to turn around and wave in response, but in the end, the figure vanished without even a single look back.

A sigh, drooping shoulders, and a sorrowful gaze made even the servant feel a bit reluctant to watch.

Mu Zitao, who had slowed his pace after leaving the town, felt a bit of regret. Since he knew which direction she was heading, why did he depart so early? They were only in a donkey cart; how fast could they possibly go?

Should he follow slowly behind? Or overtake them first...