Mu Run stepped out of the carriage. "How much?"
"Five copper coins." The coachman put down the bench and let Mu Run get off the carriage.
Mu Run took out a piece of silver and placed it in a small basket at the carriage door. There were a few copper coins inside. "Thank you for your hard work."
"Thank you, sir. Please watch your step." The driver, seeing the loose silver coins Mu Run had given him, personally helped Mu Run off the carriage by holding onto the bench.
...
Mu Run carried her bundle and entered the back gate of the Yan residence.
The old woman guarding the gate looked at her in surprise, "Little Su?"
"It's me," Mu Run replied with a normal smile.
"Why are you back?" the old woman asked, then immediately realized what she meant. "Going back to your parents' house, didn't you?"
"Yes," Mu Run said shyly, "Is my father here?"
"Your father?" The old woman sighed. "Your mother fell ill, and your father took her back to Su Family Village yesterday."
Mu Run asked in surprise, "What illness does my mother have?"
The old woman said, "I'm not quite sure either, but it's probably not a good illness. He's vomiting blood! Your sister-in-law and brother have also passed away."
The whole family left, not to seek medical treatment, but to Sujiazhuang. They're going to die...
Mu Run turned and walked away, calling out to the donkey cart that hadn't gone far, "Grandpa, wait a minute—"
...
Before dark, Mu Run arrived at Su Family Village.
The donkey cart she had ridden in before didn't leave the capital, but he helped her find a horse-drawn carriage that went out of the city.
The coachman was a young man named Guo San'er. He was on his way to Zuoci Town and happened to be passing through Sujiazhuang.
"Thanks, Brother Xiaoguo."
"Of course. It's getting late, sir, you should head back soon."
"Okay, be careful on the road."
Mu Run watched the carriage gradually disappear into the distance, then turned to look at Su Family Village, where smoke was rising from chimneys and lights were on. He then carried his bundle into the village.
Su Qi came out of the study with his son Su Shaoqian, carrying several books in his hands.
"These days, you should review your lessons on your own. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask your father."
"Okay." Su Shaoqian nodded obediently.
Su Qi patted his little shoulder and continued walking forward.
"Oh, Father, look! Isn't that Auntie?" Su Shaoqian exclaimed, pointing to a woman carrying a bundle and looking around.
Hearing the child's voice, Mu Run looked over and met Su Qi's gaze.
Su Qi was quite surprised to see her. "Xiao Xiao, what are you doing here?"
Thinking back to what the child had just said, Mu Run realized that these must be Xiao Su's older brother and nephew.
"Brother, how is Mother?"
"..." Su Qi suddenly stopped talking.
Mu Run stopped in her tracks. "Am I late?"
Seeing that his father remained silent, Su Shaoqian said to Mu Run, "Aunt, Grandma is ill. The Imperial Physician said that we can start preparing for her funeral."
"Don't talk nonsense, kid," Su Qi scolded his son in a low voice. Even if it was true, he didn't want to say it, or even hear it.
Mu Run held Su Shaoqian's little hand and followed Su Qi back to the Su family home.
The Su family's house was a three-courtyard residence, but the strong smell of medicine wafted from the inner courtyard to the entrance.
After entering the second courtyard through the hanging flower gate, Su Qi called out, "Father—look who's here?"
Upon hearing the noise, Su's father came out from the inner courtyard. When he saw Mu Run, his dim old eyes instantly blurred with tears. "Xiao Xiao—it's my Xiao Xiao!"
"Father..." Mu Run's voice choked, and tears began to fall from his eyes.
She had no memory of Su Xiao and no feelings for Su's father, but seeing Su's father's appearance instantly brought back memories of her own father, and tears welled up in her eyes.
……
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