Chapter 166 Gratitude
Amid cheers from the crowd, Song Dalang put down the hitching post, stood up, and saw that it was still a little short of its original position. So he squatted down again, carefully estimated the distance he had moved, and then put it down.
Then Song Dalang found some stones and tamped down the soil at the bottom of the hitching post, which had been pushed up by the recent uprooting. He bowed to Old Man Zhou before turning to Li Erxiong and looking at him with expectant eyes.
Li Erxiong's face was now contorted with embarrassment. It was Li Sanniang who called out, and Song Dalang pulled the carriage around in a circle, entering through the back door.
Song Dalang, holding Song Xiaoniang's hand, felt somewhat embarrassed in front of the Li family, but still bowed to them before looking at Li Sanniang with hopeful eyes and asking, "Li Sanniang, I have some strength. If you don't mind, I'd like to pull your cart."
Li San Niang beckoned Song Xiao Niang, who was now healthy, to come to her side and offered her a plate of snacks to eat with Lu Zhu'er.
Song Xiaoniang was very obedient now, completely unlike how she had been at the Li family's gate, ordering her father to pull out the hitching post. She obediently asked where to wash her hands and even called Luzhu'er to go with her.
Dewdrop was very willing to go with Song Xiaoniang, after all, this was the first time Dewdrop had met a woman who was willing to take her along.
Sister-in-law Li was worried, so she went along with her.
Only then did Li San Niang look directly at the burly, dark-skinned man sitting stiffly in the chair in front of her. "Young Master Song, are you aware of the rumors circulating about me, Li San Niang, on the street?"
Song Dalang waved his hand, and if it weren't for his dark complexion, you could definitely see his flushed face. "Li San Niangzi, just call me by my name, not 'Young Master.' My full name is Song Zheng. I've heard the rumors about San Niangzi on the street. A good person like San Niangzi is definitely not the kind of person the rumors describe. My wife was saved by you, and you didn't take a single copper coin from me. I believe you."
After washing their hands, Song Xiaoniang and Luzhu returned hand in hand. Despite her young age, Song Xiaoniang was quite poised. She first took a small pastry, and after figuring that Luzhu could hold it and eat it herself, she took a pastry and ate it herself.
"Judging from your appearance, you must be a few years older than me, probably around the same age as my second brother. May I address you as Elder Brother Song?"
Seeing Song Dalang nod, Li Sanniang continued, "You know about the rumors, but do you know that Old Man Wang, who used to drive my cart, is still bedridden at home and unable to get up? Aren't you afraid that on the way to my shift, I might encounter some bad guys and end up even worse off than Old Man Wang?"
"Don't worry, Third Sister, I'm brave and fearless! If any villains come, I'll fight them."
Song Dalang looked at the simple carriage he had pulled, scratched his head, and said with a hint of embarrassment, "It's just that this is the only carriage I can afford. As long as Third Sister doesn't mind, I'm really willing to pull the carriage for you."
Seeing that Li Sanniang remained silent, Song Xiaoniang rubbed her hands together, stood up, and bowed to Li Sanniang: "When my mother was still alive, she told my father and me that gratitude is something one should do in this world. My life was saved by you, Sanniang. Now that you need a driver, I, your father, am willing to do this to repay you for saving me back then."
This was the first time Li San Niangzi had ever seen a young girl of this age in the marketplace. To be able to speak so eloquently, Song Xiao Niang's mother must be a sensible and reasonable woman.
Finally, Li San Niang thought, since there is such a predestined relationship, why not?
Therefore, Li San Niang decided to hire Song Da Lang as her coachman for commuting to and from work. Moreover, seeing that Song Xiao Niang and Lu Zhu Er got along well, Li San Niang had the idea of taking Song Xiao Niang as her second disciple.
Thinking about this, Li San Niang herself found it amusing; her eldest disciple hadn't even finished harvesting yet, and her second disciple was already trying to get started.
However, Li San Niang didn't say anything at the moment, wanting to wait until she was more familiar with the situation and understood it better before making a decision.
Actually, Qiu Xiang had previously told Li San Niang that if they really couldn't find a driver willing to give Li San Niang a ride, the Bad People could send someone else to be a driver.
Originally, Li San Niang had decided that it was fine that way. After all, there were indeed risks on her way to and from her shifts, and it was understandable that others were unwilling to take on the job and the risks.
Wouldn't it be better to use people from the Bad Guys who are skilled in martial arts, or even experts, as drivers?
But fate is so magical. Who would have thought that Song Dalang would be willing to exchange all his wealth for a simple carriage in order to repay Li Sanniang for saving his daughter?
“Brother Song, treating Miss Song that night was simply my duty as a physician. There’s no need for any further repayment; it was just a small favor. Therefore, you must be paid for hiring me as a driver.”
Finally, Li Erxiong suggested that the Li family buy the donkeys to pull the cart and have Song Dalang feed them. Song Dalang would then come to the Li family to pick up Li Sanniang from her shift in Yongpingfang every morning and evening.
Because Li San Niang still harbored hatred, this job was not only that of a coachman, but also involved the risk of encountering villains. In addition, she was paid the lowest-ranking bodyguard in the escort agency.
"That won't do. We've already favored you, how can we ask for more money?"
Li San Niang glanced at Song Xiao Niang, who was still playing with Lu Zhu'er, and said, "Then let's halve the money for the escort. When Brother Song came to pick me up this morning, he brought Song Xiao Niang with him and left her at my house so she could keep my son company. That way, Brother Song can feel more at ease."
While playing with Luzhu'er, Song Xiaoniang had been eavesdropping on Li Sanniang and the others' conversation. Upon hearing Li Sanniang's words, she was overjoyed and immediately stood up, looking at Song Dalang with longing eyes. Song Dalang, who couldn't do anything about his wife, nodded, but still said shyly, "That's unfair to Sanniang. I'm the one who got the better deal. Thank you, madam."
At this moment, Qiu Xiang appeared, whispered a few words in Li San Niang's ear, and then stepped aside.
"Then, Brother Song and Madam Song, please stay for a simple meal. I'll have someone fix up this carriage and then go to the cattle and horse market to buy a healthy donkey."
September 28th, the Autumn Equinox, the weather was clear and breezy.
Today is the first time Li San Niang has gone out since her assassination attempt, and it's also the day she was supposed to be on duty with the Medical Alliance.
Li San Niang was wearing a light red ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) that Li Da Sao (another type of traditional Chinese dress) had just made a few days ago. She carried her medical kit on her back, and Qiu Xiang, who had been transformed into a normal young woman, followed behind her.
A donkey cart was parked in front of the Li Family Medical Clinic, and Song Dalang was standing beside it waiting.
Li San Niang squatted down and said a few words to Lu Zhu'er and Song Xiao Niang, ending with, "When your mother comes back from work, she'll bring Lu Zhu'er something delicious."
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