The Yun family found a good water source, and Old Mrs. Zhao took the initiative to bring a large pot to boil water so that everyone could wash up properly.
Li Shulan rummaged through her bundle and pulled out two rather worn-out clothes, intending to alter them for Qianxia and her sister.
When Zhang saw it, she snatched it away, saying, "Sister-in-law, this dress of yours looks really nice. It's a shame to let those two girls wear it. Let me switch with you."
Li Shulan hesitated, but Mrs. Zhao stopped her, saying, "Let her be. She just doesn't want to give away such nice clothes."
Zhang found two sets of clothes that Lin Yirong wore for work, which had many patches on them.
Nevertheless, she still felt a little reluctant, as she wanted to use the clothes to make shoe uppers for her husband and eldest son.
Lin Yinan saw it all but said nothing; it was all just a bunch of nonsense.
She still has a lot of fabric in her storage space, but it's not suitable to take it out now that she's traveling every day.
Lin Shuo and Lin Fu set up a simple shed not far away using a few wooden sticks and tarpaulin for washing up.
Chika and Chima weren't afraid of the cold, so they each brought in two buckets of cold water to wash themselves.
After washing up, the two sisters looked even more delicate, but they were too thin, with sunken cheeks. Lin Yirong was not fat and was a year younger than the two sisters, so her old clothes were a little loose on them.
After Lin Yinan finished washing up and came out, the two sisters had already wrung out their hair. Qianxia took the cloth from Li Shulan and wiped her hair, while Qianwu took the initiative to help Zhang Shi start the fire and cook.
"Girl, your hair smells so good."
When Lin Yinan washed her hair, she put some shampoo she had stored in her space in it, and Qianxia smelled the fragrance of the shampoo.
"I used soapberry."
Chika's hair is dry and yellow, which is caused by long-term nutritional deficiencies. "I'll get some for you two next time."
"This thing is precious, Miss, please keep it for yourself. I'm used to washing it with wood ash."
The Chika sisters were neither humble nor arrogant, and acted with proper manners, suggesting they came from a wealthy family.
"You seem to have a lot of method in your actions. Are you and Qianwu maids from a wealthy family?" Lin Yinan asked.
“Since the age of eight, my sister and I have been working in the homes of wealthy families. Until last year, when we reached the appropriate age, our parents brought us home. The families had already found suitable matches for us, but then the barbarians attacked.”
"In order to save my brother's life, my parents sold my sister and me with a bag of grain, not caring whether we would be sold to that filthy place."
Chika spoke calmly, as if she were telling someone else's story.
Lin Yinan was getting a headache from hearing "servant" so often.
Her hair was half-dry when Lin Yinan took the comb from her and slowly combed it herself.
She was bad at comforting people and didn't know how to get close to them. She said softly, "Don't keep calling me 'servant' when you speak. You've seen it yourself, we're just ordinary farmers. Do what you're supposed to do, and I'll make sure you have enough to eat. If you want to leave later, I can let you go."
Qianxia knelt down before her with a thud, "I, Qianxia and Qianwu, swear to follow you to the death and never leave you, young lady, for saving my life."
"One more thing, don't kneel down all the time, I don't like it."
Upon hearing this, Qianxia quickly got up and patted the dust off her pants.
“Slave… I’ve remembered.”
“Anan.”
Su Yunzhi walked over from a distance, his face showing signs of weariness from days of travel.
Lin Yinan turned to look at him, her face indifferent, her eyes devoid of any emotion.
Chika took two steps back and sized up the man in front of her.
Su Yunzhi stepped forward and glanced at Qianxia, who was following behind Lin Yinan. "Are you... encountering some difficulties?"
Lin Yinan raised her eyes and said calmly, "No."
Su Yunzhi: "Is there anything I can help you with?"
Lin Yinan shook her head. "No, not either."
Su Yunzhi was speechless for a moment, unsure of what to say next.
A cool breeze ruffled her long hair, and a few strands brushed against the back of his hand. His heart suddenly started pounding uncontrollably, and he quickly lowered his hand and hid it in his sleeve.
A fresh and delicate fragrance lingered around her nose, and Su Yunzhi suddenly felt a little thirsty.
He tried to hide the strange feeling in his heart and attempted to break the silence between the two of them.
Su Yunzhi's voice was somewhat hoarse as she said, "So much time has passed since Uncle Lin's death. The deceased is gone, and the living must go on. Anan, please don't be sad anymore."
"Yes, I understand."
Lin Yinan's cool and aloof face was obscured by her hair, making it difficult to see clearly even at such close range.
The villagers coming and going in the camp would occasionally glance at them. Although the two were already engaged, Su Yunzhi could no longer stay here.
"Then I'll head back now. Just come find me if you need anything."
"Okay!" Lin Yinan readily agreed.
After Su Yunzhi walked away, Lin Yinan turned back to Qianxia and said, "You go back first, I'm going to take a walk in the woods."
Seeing the unwavering determination in her eyes, Qianxia quickly lowered her head and said, "Yes."
Lin Yinan walked into the forest where few people had been, found a large tree with lush foliage and thick branches, and climbed up it in a few quick movements.
Since the outbreak of the zombie virus, she has made it a habit to rest in trees or on tall buildings.
She braided her dry hair, coiled it on top of her head, and lay on a tree branch with her hands behind her head, closing her eyes to enjoy the tranquil moment.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, and soon after, the sound of voices could be heard coming from under the tree.
“Brother, Miss Huang’s uncle is the magistrate of Qingdao County. When he arrives at Gudao County, he will take his family there to seek refuge. Brother, you are learned and talented. Why don’t we go with you? Then we can ask Magistrate Huang to put in a good word for you and arrange a job for you. That way, we won’t have to suffer the hardship of wandering anymore.”
"Did Miss Huang tell you that?"
"Brother, Miss Huang and I are on good terms, that's why she told me secretly."
Lin Zhaohui narrowed his eyes. His younger sister had lived in the village since childhood and had no idea about the intricacies of life in wealthy families. She had probably been deceived.
"You've been fooled by her."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Qiutao became anxious. It wasn't easy for her to build a good relationship with Miss Huang, and Miss Huang had agreed to take care of her family.
"How could she lie to me about something so important?"
Lin Zhaohui patiently explained to her.
“It might be true, but sister, don’t forget that Lord Huang abandoned the city with his family, which is a capital offense. He doesn’t even dare to enter Yangcheng. Even if he goes to Qingdao County to seek refuge with his brother-in-law, he wouldn’t dare to do it openly. He can only keep a low profile. Do you think it’s appropriate for us to go with him?”
Lin Qiutao: "Then why did she still ask me to go?"
Lin Zhaohui looked at his younger sister, who had been pampered by their parents and had grown into a beautiful young woman.
"Lord Huang is penniless now. If he wants to live a better life, he will definitely use his children to arrange marriages. If we go there, we will be unfamiliar with the place and have no power or influence. If he sends you to curry favor with those high-ranking officials, are you willing to do so?"
Lin Zhaohui's words struck Lin Qiutao like a heavy hammer. The thought of her, a beautiful young woman, spending every day with a fat, old man on his deathbed made her want to vomit.
Clutching her wildly pounding heart, and thinking of the elegant and refined Su Yunzhi, Lin Qiutao shook her head frantically in fear.
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