A wave of scorching heat hit me in the face, and all I could see was cracked yellow earth.
Tao Wanniang sat on the cart, and her three-year-old grandson, Gouwa, sat beside her with a half-broken palm-leaf fan, swaying it back and forth to fan her.
Ling Dahu, pushing the cart, was wearing a worn-out, patched-up shirt that was already soaked with sweat.
The eldest daughter-in-law, Wang Hongyu, carried a bag in her hand and her one-year-old daughter, Huani, on her back.
The second son, Ling Dapeng, was carrying a basket containing his son, Ergou.
The youngest daughter-in-law, Zhou Xiaoyun, carried her luggage and followed behind Ling Dapeng.
"Mother, there's a grove of trees ahead. Let's go into the woods and take shelter. The sun is too strong."
Ling Dahu wiped the sweat from his forehead, his chapped lips bleeding as he asked.
"You've only walked a few steps and you already need to rest? At your pace, when will you ever reach the provincial capital?" Tao Wanniang mocked.
Lingjia Village is nestled in a mountain valley, and it takes several days just to get out of the valley.
Unfortunately, the Ling brothers were completely illiterate; not only could they not read a single character, but they also had no idea about geography.
In the end, it was Tao Wan Niang who found the right direction by relying on the original owner's memories, and they walked for a whole morning.
“Mother, you may not be tired from sitting on the cart, but what about Dogwa’s father…” Wang Hongyu said, feeling sorry for her husband.
Before he could finish speaking, Tao Wan's mother interrupted him, "If you feel sorry for him, then push the cart for him. Do you expect me to get up and walk? Don't say I'm being unfair. Isn't Gouwa sitting on the cart? Why don't you lead him around?"
After arguing with the eldest brother and his wife, Tao Wan's mother looked at the sky and the situation ahead, and felt that it was indeed time to find a place to rest and recuperate, before finally agreeing:
"Let's go to the woods ahead. Your deadbeat father just appeared in my dream again, saying he's prepared something for me!"
Tao Wanniang didn't actually have any ill intentions towards her son and daughter-in-law, but firstly, the original owner's unreasonable persona needed to be maintained for a while.
After all, a sudden change in temperament overnight would only arouse suspicion from her family, even though she could suppress it with the original owner's unreasonable behavior.
Secondly, their current pace is too slow, so they can't stop to rest easily.
She really puts her heart and soul into this family!
Hearing his mother's agreement, Ling Dahu quickly pushed the cart into the woods and parked it. He then found a rock to sit on, wiping his sweat and panting.
Wang Hongyu picked up the kettle and shook it.
I cooked rice and made steamed buns last night, and we ran out of water...
"Mother, what did Father give us? There doesn't seem to be anywhere here to hide anything."
Ling Dapeng looked around and asked.
It's called a forest, but it's really just a small bamboo grove, and most of the bamboo is half-withered.
The only rock in the small bamboo grove was being sat on by his eldest brother.
"Isn't there anywhere to hide things...?"
Tao Wanniang looked around pretending to look, then got off the cart and stretched her body.
"Shall I look for it?"
As she spoke, Tao Wanniang touched each piece of luggage placed on the cart.
"Huh, why is this thing so heavy?"
She picked up the kettle, weighed it in her hand for a few moments, and asked in confusion:
"There can't be water in here, can there? Did any of you get any water?"
"Mother, there's no water left in the village, and we've run out of water at home too. We were in such a rush this morning that we didn't have time to go into the mountains to find water... There's probably something else in that jug!"
Ling Dahu licked his chapped lips and said.
Tao Wanniang didn't say anything, but opened the kettle and took a sip right away.
"Ha, that feels good, and it's even a little sweet, like spring water. I guess it wasn't you guys who made it."
"Your deadbeat father is actually quite smart; he knew I was thirsty right now."
Tao Wanniang did it on purpose, of course.
This water is the source of life; famine not only lacks food, but also water!
She exchanged one or two taels of silver for enough water and put it in the system. In the morning, she secretly filled her large water jug.
She had wanted to drink water several times along the way, but she resisted. Now she finally had a reason to drink water openly, which felt so good!
"Come here, all of you, and bring your own water bottles. I don't want to drink your spittle!" Tao Wan's mother said to her son and daughter-in-law, protecting her water bottles.
Ling Dahu immediately looked at his wife, Wang Hongyu, who didn't hesitate either, and took the water bottle and brought it to Tao Wanniang.
"Mother, thank goodness for you!"
Wang Hongyu didn't forget to flatter Tao Wan's mother, saying, "Father must be thinking of your kindness to take such good care of us."
"Mother, thank you."
Zhou Xiaoyun also stepped forward with a bamboo tube and said weakly.
"snort!"
Tao Wanniang responded with a cold snort.
She knew that her two sons were afraid of her because they had been suppressed by the original owner of the body since childhood.
The daughters-in-law are somewhat afraid of their mothers-in-law, but also harbor a degree of resentment towards them.
Respect? Absolutely not. In fact, she might even subtly whisper sweet nothings in her sons' ears...
But in this family, it's always one way or the other, and she definitely doesn't want to be the one who gets dominated!
"Thank you, you really should thank me. If it weren't for me, you would have starved to death along the way because you didn't have enough to eat or drink. So remember to listen to me!"
Tao Wanniang emphasized.
What she wanted was for her family to listen to her during the rest of the journey, instead of paying lip service to her words while secretly disobeying her!
After getting water, the whole family ate steamed buns with water to replenish their energy.
Even sitting in the small bamboo grove, you'd be drenched in sweat on this sweltering day.
After the three children had eaten and drunk their fill, they became sleepy. If they were made to get up and travel at this time, the chances of them suffering from heatstroke would be very high.
Tao Wan's mother simply let the children sleep on the cart for a while, while she sat on the ground next to the cart and dozed off.
"Mother, it seems someone is coming!"
Tao Wan's mother, who had just dozed off for a while, was woken up by Ling Dapeng and scolded him irritably:
"How annoying! Can't a person get some sleep in peace?!"
She has a terrible temper when she wakes up...
Ling Dapeng, who had been scolded by Tao Wan's mother, shrank back slightly, but still whispered a reminder:
"Mother, the person is coming!"
Tao Wanniang looked over and immediately whispered, "Put away the water and food. We don't know who's coming, so be careful."
Two men arrived, both looking pale and emaciated, as if they hadn't eaten for days.
"Fellow villagers, are you also fleeing from disaster?"
One of the older men spoke up and asked.
Both men were of medium build, and their eyes held a look of inquiry when they saw Tao Wanniang and her group.
Do we look like we're out having fun?
Tao Wanniang replied irritably.
As a quick-transmigration mission taker who could work until retirement, she had seen countless people, and these two men in front of her clearly had ill intentions...
"Hey, ma'am, don't misunderstand. We're also fleeing from disaster. This drought has lasted for a year and a half; no one can endure it. We're from Nanwu Village. Where are you from?"
aunt?
The original owner was only thirty-six, yet two men who looked to be in their thirties called her "Auntie"?!
Tao Wanniang's anger flared up instantly, along with her rage towards the blundering system.
"Who are you calling 'auntie'? You two are acting like sharp-tongued monkeys. Don't try to get close to us! We'll each go our own way. Go, go, go, don't disturb our little ones."
The four wives of the Ling brothers stood calmly behind Tao Wanniang.
Their mother was like that in Lingjia Village; she would scold anyone she could find, and the four of them were used to it.
"Auntie, we just want a drink of water. Please, have mercy and give us some."
The man who had spoken to them earlier pleaded.
Before he finished speaking, the two men suddenly knelt down.
“We really have no other choice. When we came out, there were five people in our family, but now it’s just the two of us brothers left. Auntie, we’re all from the same village, please help us with a little water!” another man added.
"Mother, look how hard they've worked, give them some water!" Ling Dahu tugged at Tao Wan's mother's sleeve, unable to bear it.
Tao Wanniang turned around and saw the tall Ling Dahu with a silly look on his face.
What a foolish boy who doesn't know the wickedness of people!
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