Although Mo Qingcheng didn't care about her reputation, she still needed to avoid suspicion because she had several young girls in her family.
Bai Yueniang felt guilty and kept apologizing, but Mo Qingcheng comforted her with a few words. Xuan Yuan Ying and her sister secretly resolved to help Aunt Mo with more chores; they had plenty of strength, though they had nothing else.
The villagers in the two villages settled down for the time being. Every day, in addition to their essential task of digging for wild vegetables, they would also go to the Qinhe ferry to inquire about crossing the river. Gradually, they became disheartened.
The government still wouldn't loosen restrictions; either a document from a higher-level government or a contract of servitude was required. People were causing trouble for the village chief every day, and Li Changgeng and Sun Yunhui threatened that anyone who didn't want to stay could leave at any time.
Gradually, within two days, rumors began to circulate in the village that Li Changgeng and Sun Yunhui had been bewitched by Mo Niangzi and were completely confused.
Liu Cuihua was so angry that she cursed loudly, "You can slander my man, but you absolutely cannot speak ill of Mo Niangzi!" Widow Li sneered, swaying her plump hips, and made sarcastic remarks.
"Ha, no wonder she's a vixen!"
"If you're so capable, why don't you become a vixen yourself! Humph!" Liu Cuihua rolled her eyes. Shameless.
Widow Li trembled with rage, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Li Changgeng's youngest son, her legs spinning. When Li Yunlin got angry, even his father couldn't do anything about it, let alone an old widow like her.
Wild vegetables were becoming increasingly scarce, and there was no prey left on the mountain. One day, Li Changgeng and Sun Yunhui brought Liu Cuihua to find Mo Qingcheng and came to the clan leader's place to discuss matters.
Five or six days have passed in the blink of an eye, and there has been no movement from the government. Are they going to let them fend for themselves?
Mo Qingcheng remained silent, her brows slightly furrowed, and uttered only one word: "Wait!"
Everyone was completely baffled, but Mo Qingcheng was unwilling to say more, seemingly wary of something. Hu Lai and Yun Lei came to freeload at mealtimes every day, and the six little ones were on high alert—were they trying to abduct their mother again?
This is outrageous!
Bai Ziming pouted. "Mother's not stupid. My brother and sister are overthinking it." Bai Yunfei glared at her brother with disdain. "Are you stupid or what?"
After failing to reach an agreement, the crowd dispersed, their spirits even lowered, and several incidents of theft and fighting broke out, leaving Li Changgeng and Sun Yunhui half-dead.
It was the people from Bishui Village who sneaked down the mountain in the middle of the night and stole the food. The two of them led the families who had been robbed to the mountain, where they were met with sarcasm from Liu Changming, who said, "Won't you get to eat meat if you follow Mo Niangzi?"
Mo Qingcheng ignored the rumors and gossip, believing that the innocent would remain innocent, and that adding more details would only give the impression of trying to cover something up, which would be superfluous and unnecessary.
Hu Lai and Yun Lei were anxious. They wondered if their master (the lord) had received the message they sent. Without any new instructions, what if Lady Mo exposed their true identity? How would they survive?
The child was prone to getting cold, and in the afternoon, Bai Ziming started to have a fever. Mo Qingcheng was startled. The interstellar farm had spare medicine for treating colds and fevers, but how could she take it out in public?
This is driving me crazy!
Hu Zi volunteered to go up the mountain to collect herbs, but was stopped by Mo Qingcheng.
"Dr. Hu, please take good care of Mo Mo. I'm going to gather herbs." Mo Qingcheng's eyes flickered slightly. She always needed to find an excuse to give something away; her third grandmother's family had run out of food yesterday...
Hu Lai stared intently at Mo Qingcheng: "Lady Mo, you're not going to run away, are you?"
"Run away, my foot! If anything happens to Mo Mo, you'll be held responsible." Mo Qingcheng rolled her eyes, picked up the bamboo basket, and turned to leave.
"Sister Mo, I'll go with you!" Bai Yueniang was worried; she wondered where Yun Lei had run off to play.
"Sister Yue, make something for the children at home. I'll go check on the traps we dug... Don't worry." Mo Qingcheng whistled and turned to leave.
Bai Yueniang stood there, lost in thought...
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