Ning Zixuan pondered for a moment, then spoke:
"I've never heard of it. There are many officials in the capital. Perhaps it's some unknown minor official."
Jiang Yuwei nodded after hearing this and said to Yun Qing:
"Yunqing, you have to catch the train tomorrow, so go back to sleep first. I'll have Tiezhu come out and relieve you."
Upon hearing this, Yun Qing hurriedly went back to the house. Jiang Yuwei and Ning Zixuan also entered the house. Then, Jiang Yuwei gave Tie Zhu a wink, signaling him to go outside and keep watch.
Jiang Yuwei looked at Jia Yu, who was still immersed in grief, and said:
"Jia Yu, I'm really sorry about today. We didn't ask clearly and caused a misunderstanding. Please don't be angry. We'll just stay for one night and leave at dawn, okay?"
Jia Yu glanced at Jiang Yuwei, then at the group of people in the room, and waved his hand, saying:
"It's alright, you guys go back to your rooms and sleep. When I get home, I can just find a place to lie down and make do for the night."
Seeing that Jia Yu had agreed, Jiang Yuwei quickly said to everyone:
"It's alright, everyone, hurry up and get some rest. It'll be dawn soon, and we'll have to get up early to continue our journey."
As she spoke, Jiang Yuwei went inside to sleep. She woke up just as dawn broke and, seeing that nothing had happened overnight, hurriedly called Tiezhu inside to take a nap before setting off again after everyone had finished breakfast.
Then Jiang Yuwei took out some grain from her spatial storage and placed it in the inner room for Jia Yu, saying to Jia Yu:
"Thank you for letting us stay last night. Now that Cao Kangcheng has gone to the capital, I suppose no one in Qinghe County remembers this matter anymore. Although you are all alone, you must live well for your family and the villagers. Perhaps one day this matter will be cleared up. I hope you can live to see that day."
Upon hearing Jiang Yuwei's words, Jia Yu's eyes immediately filled with tears, and he said:
"I told you about my situation last night, which was like lifting a huge weight off my chest. You're right, I will live well. I must see that corrupt official Cao Kangcheng punished. Today I'll pack up and go to town to find a job. It's not good to just stay in the village like this all the time."
Jiang Yuwei was pleased to see that he could think things through, and then she pointed to the pile of grain in the room and said:
"Keep these. You need to eat before you can work. If you're worried about scaring people with your face, you can make a mask and wear it. That way you won't have to put your hair in front of your face. You really look like a ghost when you look like this."
Jia Yu wasn't angry at Jiang Yuwei's words; he just scratched his head sheepishly and smiled.
"I understand, thank you for telling me so much."
Seeing that he didn't think much of it, Jiang Yuwei smiled at Jia Yu and went to help Aunt Zhou and the others cook breakfast. After they finished making breakfast, Ning Wu and the others returned after feeding the cattle. After tying up the oxcart, they went inside to eat breakfast.
After the group had finished breakfast, Jiang Yuwei woke Tiezhu up, handed him a steamed bun, and said:
"Wouldn't it help you clear your head if you took a nap? We've already had breakfast. Eat this bun. We'll have Ningwu drive the carriage later, so you can sleep a little longer on the carriage."
Tie Zhu took the steamed bun and smiled:
"Okay, Sister Yuwei, I'll do whatever you say."
Ning Daya knew that Tiezhu hadn't slept all night, and she felt very sorry for him, so she handed him some water.
"Brother Tiezhu, eat slowly, don't choke."
Tie Zhu took the water Ning Daya handed him and drank it all in one gulp. He then handed the bowl back to Ning Daya, but accidentally touched her finger. Tie Zhu blushed and looked at Ning Daya with an awkward smile.
Seeing this, Ning Daya also ran out with her bowl, looking embarrassed.
Jiang Yuwei checked again to make sure nothing was left behind, and everyone got into the car before saying goodbye to Jia Yu.
The group continued on their journey.
After walking all morning, the group came to a stream. Jiang Yuwei thought the place was nice and called for everyone to stop and rest for a while. But they had just set up a firewood rack and were preparing to cook a meal.
An old woman walked over, her eyes darting around furtively. She then pulled aside Aunt Zhou, who was about her age, and began to inquire.
"Hey ladies, where are you all headed in this huge group?"
Aunt Zhou was always easy to talk to, and seeing the woman asking questions, she didn't hide anything and spoke directly:
"We're going to the capital."
Upon hearing this, the woman glanced around at the carriages and oxcarts parked nearby and smiled:
"Hey, look at all those bags and packages you've brought! You've got a lot of stuff. Are you moving as a family?"
As Aunt Zhou washed the wild vegetables by the river, she nodded and said:
"Yes, yes, the whole family is moving there."
The woman chuckled dryly a few times, then whispered in Aunt Zhou's ear:
"Hehe, are those two carriages with you too? I bet the people in those carriages are richer than you guys in your oxcarts."
Aunt Zhou sensed something was amiss upon hearing this, so she turned to the woman warily and said:
Why are you asking these questions?
Seeing Aunt Zhou's expression, the woman quickly smiled awkwardly:
"Hey, look at you, my old friend, you still don't believe me? I was just chatting idly."
As she spoke, the woman pointed downstream and continued:
"Did you see that? My home is in Xiaogouzi Village downstream of the river. Go ask around in the village and see what kind of person I am, Granny He. Everyone has a good word to say about me!"
Aunt Zhou glanced down the river and indeed there was a village there, then turned to Granny He and said:
"Why would I bother asking you if I have nothing better to do? I'm busy right now, I don't have time to chat with you."
As she spoke, Aunt Zhou ignored Granny He, who was still squatting by the river, and got up to cook wild vegetable soup.
When Granny He couldn't get any information from Aunt Zhou, she went directly to Xu Qianqian, who was leaning against the carriage admiring the scenery.
"Is this young lady also going to the capital?"
Xu Qianqian glanced at Granny He and replied calmly:
"Yes, what's wrong?"
Seeing this, Granny He quickly smiled ingratiatingly:
"I can tell from your appearance that you have an extraordinary air about you, like a noble lady from the capital."
Then, Granny He pointed to Sun Shi and Chen Guixiang, who were cooking, and said:
"Those are all your servants, right?"
Xu Qianqian, who originally didn't want to talk to Granny He, couldn't help but laugh out loud after hearing these compliments:
"You old woman are quite perceptive; I like listening to what you say."
Seeing this, Granny He quickly spoke up:
"I wonder if this young lady could be so kind as to ask me for a meal? I haven't had a proper meal in days. Could you spare me a bite to eat?"
Xu Qianqian didn't want to pay any more attention to Granny He after hearing this, but when she thought about how Jiang Yuwei had been praised by Ning Chunlin for giving Jia Yu two steamed buns last night, she thought that if she did something kind and helped Granny He today, Ning Chunlin would definitely look at her differently.
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