Xiao Yunying used a bit of force to stop the girl from kowtowing, and said somewhat awkwardly, "First of all, I sympathize with your situation. Secondly, it seems you've misunderstood something."

The girl thought Xiao Yunying was unwilling to take her in, and tears welled up in her eyes. She didn't dare look up at her, afraid of being rejected outright, and hurriedly said in a tearful voice:

“My benefactor, I eat very little. I… I am quite capable; I can do laundry and cook, and my embroidery is also quite good. I am very strong, and I can farm and chop wood. I am not afraid of hardship. If you marry, my benefactor, I will be dutiful and will not be an eyesore to your wife. Please, my benefactor…”

"Stop, stop, stop. Look up at me first, then you can speak."

Xiao Yunying hurriedly interrupted her, lifting her chin and forcing her to look at her.

She thoughtfully twirled around as the other person's initial confusion gradually turned into surprise.

"Did you see it clearly?"

"My benefactor...is a woman?"

Xiao Yunying retorted, "Isn't it obvious?"

She was wearing a blue floral jacket, and her long hair was loosely tied back; she looked every bit the woman.

"I...I..."

"Get up before you speak."

Xiao Yunying supported herself on her arm and used the support to stand up. She sat on the edge of the bed, but she was still in shock, as if she couldn't believe her eyes.

That night, I clearly saw a handsome man, how could he have turned into a girl?

I was feeling dazed and confused, and I was too sad and upset because my parents wanted to sell me, so I didn't pay any attention to my benefactor's clothes.

Looking closely now, her skin is much fairer than it was that night, her eyebrows and eyes are more delicate and soft, and her voice is more refined; she is indeed a woman.

Luo Xin was shocked and confused by what had just happened. She tugged at Xiao Yunying's sleeve and asked, "Mother, what is a maidservant? Why does my sister want to be your maidservant?"

Xiao Yunying didn't know how to explain, so she said vaguely, "Xin'er, be good, go play by yourself first. Mother and sister have some serious business to discuss."

Xin'er nodded obediently. Her mother's business was important, and she could ask her questions later.

The girl's gaze followed Luo Xin's movements: "My benefactor... already has such a big child..."

Xiao Yunying didn't want to discuss her private life with her. She took a cotton coat and draped it over her shoulders, asking, "How did you know about my family?"

The girl, still reeling from the shock of her benefactor transforming from a man into a woman, replied somewhat dazedly:

"I escaped from home yesterday at noon and went to the yamen to find the official I had seen that night. I asked him who the young master who rescued us was, and he initially said he didn't know."

I asked the man who had brought them to meet us which family's young master he was, and he said it was the Chen family. So I went to the Chen family's residence, inquired with the gatekeeper, and finally learned where my benefactor lived.

Xiao Yunying asked in confusion, "Didn't they tell you I was a woman?"

The girl was probably too embarrassed by what she had just said; her head was practically buried in her chest, and she answered softly:

"I only asked the gatekeeper where the people who came back with Young Master Chen lived. They said they wanted to go and thank their benefactor because they were saved."

The gatekeeper went in and asked someone, but when he came out he only said that his benefactor lived in the largest brick house at the far east end of Xiaqu Village, and said nothing else, so... I really don't know..."

Xiao Yunying touched her nose, feeling slightly embarrassed.

That night, she specially put on makeup, lowered her voice, and disguised herself as a man. Everyone was on edge, focused on escaping the bandits' den, so it's not surprising that they didn't recognize her.

"With such heavy rain and snow last night, why didn't you find a place to take shelter? Since you were already at the door, why didn't you knock? In such cold weather, if my two dogs hadn't found you, you would have been sitting at the door all night and would be an ice sculpture by today."

The girl clutched the cotton coat draped over her shoulders: "It was already dark when I arrived, and I was afraid of disturbing my benefactor's rest... Also... I know I've come here presumptuously, and I really didn't dare to knock on the door so easily..."

As soon as she finished speaking, a rumbling sound came from the girl's stomach, making her blush even more. She hurriedly let go of her cotton coat and covered her stomach.

Looking at the girl's thin face and bloodless lips, Xiao Yunying felt sorry for her.

She was always more tolerant of good-looking and sensible people, and didn't mind the other person's tearful pleading, which sounded like moral blackmail. She said softly:

"Let me bring you some food first, and we can talk about the rest after you've eaten."

Xiao Yunying went to the kitchen to get the food that was being kept warm in the large pot. When she returned, she saw the girl with her head down, seemingly looking for something.

"Come and eat."

She placed the porridge and pie on the table and peeled an egg for her.

The girl was really hungry; she drank two bowls of porridge, ate two eggs, and three pies in one go before stopping.

Seeing that she wanted to eat more pie, Xiao Yunying stopped her.

"Stop eating, you've eaten too much."

Upon hearing this, the girl slid off the stool and knelt on the ground.

"My benefactor, I'm so sorry, I... I usually eat very little, but this time I was really hungry. I haven't eaten anything since the afternoon before yesterday, so I ate a lot..."

Xiao Yunying knew she had misunderstood: "Get up first. I'm not complaining that you eat too much. You just recovered from your fever and your cold hasn't healed yet. You haven't eaten for so long, so eating too much can easily cause indigestion. Be careful not to feel unwell."

The girl timidly got up and sat back down on the stool, saying, "Thank you so much, my benefactor."

Xiao Yunying was clearing away the dishes: "Don't call me your benefactor anymore. My surname is Xiao, and my given name is Yunying. What's your name?"

"I...I don't have a name."

"How could you not have a name? What's your surname? How do people at home... usually address you?"

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