"Mind your own business. If you're so capable, then don't go. You were excited the whole way, weren't you?"

"Which eye of yours saw me excited the whole way?"

"I saw it with both eyes!"

Xu Lin turned off the walkie-talkie; their noise was giving her a headache.

Because they would be coming soon, Xu Lin took everything out of the car from her storage space, filling the car to the brim.

Five minutes later, Wang Jing and Zheng Ming arrived. The group sat down on a rock next to the car, and Wang Jing took out a plastic bag of pickled vegetables for Xu Lin.

"Don't let its unappealing appearance fool you, this pickled vegetable tastes absolutely amazing. I ate a whole steamed bun with it for lunch," Wang Jing said excitedly.

"How dare you say that? We're almost starving, and you still eat so much!" Zheng Ming retorted, as was his habit.

"Are you saying you don't want to support me anymore because you think I eat too much?"

"How could that be! Everything we eat and use is yours; you're the one supporting me!"

Having been fed a mouthful of dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection), Xu Lin had to interrupt them: "Didn't you have some gossip to share?"

"Yes, do you know who this young master Fang we're following is?" Wang Jing said mysteriously.

"What's their background?" Xu Lin asked cooperatively.

"I heard he's the illegitimate son of some high-ranking official. He was afraid of being discovered by his first wife, so he stayed in Jiang Province. While the troops were on a mission in Gangcheng, he used his position to have them go to Jiang Province to pick up Young Master Fang and take him to Beijing."

"Aren't you going to deal with the mistress anymore?"

"Who cares? She got to her position because of her father-in-law. It's good enough that she can secretly take away her illegitimate child. How could she possibly take her mistress along?"

"Then let's just leave San'er in Jiang Province?"

"What else can we do? We can't just give up our careers!"

"So you won't have to worry about your career if you take your illegitimate child back?"

"He's from Jiang Province, maybe he's a relative's child?"

"You know about such a secret, do you think his wife doesn't know?"

"I overheard it, but other people don't know. Besides, men's words are deceitful; they'll believe you after a few sweet words!"

"Why are you looking at me like that? I don't have a mistress or any illegitimate children, and I'm not lying to you," Zheng Ming immediately explained.

"Why are you reacting so strongly? I didn't say anything to you!"

"What did you mean by glancing at me like that without even mentioning me?!"

"Can't I just like looking at you?"

...

Xu Lin's head started throbbing again. She took out four rice balls she had bought at an outdoor gear store from the car and handed them to Wang Jing.

"A return gift of your pickled vegetables."

"The pickled vegetables are for you, don't be so polite!" Wang Jing declined.

"It's not just being polite, it's just reciprocity. I bought this rice ball at an outdoor gear store. It not only tastes good but is also filling. It looks ordinary, but it's a must-have for home and travel. When there are many people, it won't attract attention at all."

"Wow, thank you!" Wang Jing was immediately tempted, as she had really had enough of eating steamed buns and compressed biscuits these past few days.

"Is Dr. Dai taking a break?"

"Yes, she drove all by herself, and when she parked, she had to help us find supplies. It was so hard for her."

"We'll be splitting up after we pass Bin City. Here's a map of Dong Province; you should find it useful." Xu Lin handed a map to Wang Jing.

Xu Lin's space contains a huge collection of world maps, national maps, provincial maps, and city maps, as well as electronic offline maps, all in case she gets lost.

"This is really too valuable. Without a map, we'll be completely lost when we go out. Wait for me, I'll go get you some more food."

"No need, we have plenty of food. But you two, take good care of your food and don't get scammed. Don't be too generous with your kindness."