Su Yaoguang walked back with a bamboo basket on her back.
She was the first to reach the location of the ox cart.
Uncle Wang saw her carrying a basket full of items and came over to help.
"Wow..." Uncle Wang struggled to lift the basket onto the cart, exclaiming, "Yao Guang, you've got some strength, carrying something this heavy."
It was then that Su Yaoguang noticed her strength seemed to have increased.
She was sure that in her past life, she didn't have this much strength. Carrying 20 or 30 pounds was no problem before, but today the basket weighed 60 pounds. If Uncle Wang hadn't mentioned it, she wouldn't have noticed how effortlessly she was carrying it.
"Working every day, I've built up some strength," Su Yaoguang said.
"It's not easy for you two, orphans and widows," Uncle Wang sighed, "Your grandmother and uncles are really heartless, not helping you at all."
Su Yaoguang pursed her lips.
Help them?
It was already good enough if they didn't scheme against them, let alone expecting help from them.
People from the village began to return one after another. When they saw the contents of Su Yaoguang's basket, they all started speaking in sarcastic tones with smiles.
Su Yaoguang pretended not to hear and closed her eyes, feigning sleep.
"What did you buy?" A villager reached out to lift the rag on top.
Su Yaoguang quickly pressed it down with a smile, "We're nearly out of food at home. What else could it be besides millet flour and cornmeal?"
"What's there to hide?" The villager was displeased.
"Auntie, you're right. We're all neighbors, nothing to hide. Later, I'll go to your house and take a look too."
"You young girl, such a sharp tongue."
"Yihuan and her mother are back." Everyone looked at the mother and daughter also carrying baskets.
Once they boarded, everyone cheerfully asked what they had bought.
Zhong Lanhua smiled and said, "What else could it be? We have an extra mouth to feed at home, so we have to buy more grains. The boss said both Yihuan and I have good skills, bought everything, and told us to embroider more for the next time. My daughter has developed a taste; millet flour hurts her throat, and cornmeal doesn't taste good. She only likes rice and flour. So, I bought more of it, plus some meat to nourish her. Look at her skinny frame; poor nutrition just won't do."
"You live so well! You have skills, and Yihuan learned them from you. You two can make big money, living comfortably and even raising a scholar."
"Now you've hired long-term workers too," someone chimed in, "in a few years, you could buy a big house and have a group of servants and maids."
"It's not as good as you say," Zhong Lanhua covered her mouth with a smile, "We're just barely getting by. Compared to you sisters and aunts, we're far behind."
"Both being single mothers, life can be so different," someone said sarcastically from the side.
"Exactly. Yihuan's mother is raising two kids; it's even harder. Xiao Hui in the academy has such a bright future, you'll surely enjoy prosperity later."
"Thank you for your kind words," Zhong Lanhua said with a smile, "As a mother, I have no other wishes, just that my two children live well."
Jiang Yihuan said softly, "Sister Yaoguang, what did you buy? It looks like you got quite a lot."
Su Yaoguang replied indifferently, "My mother only has one daughter, so don't pretend to be relatives."
"Why are you acting like a hedgehog?" Zhong Lanhua was displeased, "My daughter calls you sister out of respect."
"You respect me so much, why not share a piece of the meat you bought?" Su Yaoguang smiled faintly, "The cart is full of her elders; she should respect them too, right? You've bought so much rice and flour, maybe share a bit with everyone?"
All eyes turned to Zhong Lanhua and her daughter.
Zhong Lanhua and her daughter: "..."
"Who doesn't know how to say nice things?" Su Yaoguang said calmly, "If we're not family, don't pretend to be."
"Forget it, Mom, Sister Yaoguang never likes me," Jiang Yihuan said aggrievedly.
"Alright, let's just ignore her," Zhong Lanhua said coldly.
Su Yaoguang and her mother didn't get along with Jiang Yihuan and her mother; the whole village knew that. Su Yaoguang not wanting to show Zhong Lanhua and her daughter a good face was normal. In the past, Su Yaoguang would still keep up appearances, plus she wasn't that brave, always at a disadvantage when facing Jiang Yihuan and her mother alone. Today, she seemed like a different person, not only being more aggressive but also exuding an oppressive sense of arrogance.
People on the ox cart chatted and laughed.
Su Yaoguang was alone in peace.
After half an hour, the ox cart arrived at the village. Uncle Wang dropped off everyone else first and lastly, Su Yaoguang.
"Thank you, Uncle Wang." Su Yaoguang handed him some copper coins.
Uncle Wang accepted them, saying, "Yao Guang, you and your mother take care of yourselves and don't pay attention to those gossiping folks in the village."
"I know," Su Yaoguang was about to pick up the basket when a miserable scream came from the courtyard. She paused for a moment, then put down the basket and ran into the courtyard.
Uncle Wang followed her, carrying Su Yaoguang's basket.
"What happened?"
Su Yaoguang pushed open the door to see Uncle Su staggering out of the woodshed. A piece of metal was lodged in his shoulder, and fresh blood was still flowing out.
"Murder, murder..." Uncle Su cried in terror, "Su Yaoguang, the man you bought is trying to kill someone, this isn't over."
Su Yaoguang ran past Uncle Su, into the woodshed, and looked at the wooden bed.
Zhou Wangshu was sitting on the bed, with many blood stains seeping through the previously bandaged cloth, clearly where the wounds had reopened.
He looked sharply at the door, and upon seeing Su Yaoguang, the murderous look in his eyes faded.
"What did he do to you?" Su Yaoguang asked.
Zhou Wangshu lowered his eyes, a bitter expression on his pale face: "He said I was in his way, and seeing that I still had some looks, he might sell me for a good price, wanting to sell me to a brothel."
"Rest here for a bit, I'll be back soon to help you bandage up," Su Yaoguang said, then turned to leave.
Uncle Wang brought in her basket.
He was talking to Uncle Su.
Uncle Su was loudly complaining, "I'm her uncle. When I heard she bought a man, of course I'd check him out. I deliberately said a few harsh words to provoke him, to see how he'd react. Sure enough, he's someone who dares to kill; he can't be any good. Blood, so much blood, I can't take it, quickly take me to see a doctor."
Su Yaoguang blocked Uncle Su's path: "You can leave, but first explain why you want to sell my husband to a brothel?"
"A man with an unknown background, and you call him your husband, don't you have any shame?" Uncle Su glared at her, "Your father isn't here, as your uncle, I must correct you."