From the moment she said everyone would be able to eat meat today without having to gnaw on bones, the children were in disbelief. Then, after confirming it was true, their joyful anticipation turned into a frantic rush. Now, a man on horseback is ordering them to buy all the roasted meat and the uncooked game on the ground. This short period felt like a nightmare for the children.
Dreams are beautiful, but fleeting; upon waking, we discover that the beauty of our dreams is all gone.
Disappointment after having expectations is especially hard to accept!
Although the man on horseback said he was selling it to them for silver, it wasn't free or robbery.
But they just want to eat meat, even just a small bite.
The children all knew that the mother who saved them yesterday was well-dressed, but she had no money. She had checked herself several times, even turning her purse inside out, when she saw someone selling sesame cakes on the road, but she didn't have a single copper coin.
They had no money for food, let alone a place to stay for the night.
This woman must need money, right? Since someone is willing to pay for these wild game, she will definitely agree to sell them, won't she?
"Make an offer," the man on horseback urged impatiently when Hong Xiaoduo didn't respond.
Despite the carriage's luxurious appearance, the presence of two guards, and the well-dressed coachman, it was clear that the person inside must be of high status. However, Hong Xiaoduo did not think highly of them and remained seated on the throne of filial piety, saying, "Excuse me, we are hungry too and need to eat."
Huh? They're not agreeing?
Not only the rider, but also the seven children were quite surprised.
But her response not only surprised the rider, but also slightly annoyed him. He'd politely offered money to buy it from her, and she didn't appreciate it!
The children's expressions showed that her refusal gave them hope again—the hope of eating meat—but they were also somewhat worried.
Although the other side didn't have as many people as them, they were all adults. The two guards on horseback had large swords at their waists, and the coachman looked quite strong. What if they got angry and tried to rob them?
Even if Mother is powerful, can she defeat them all by herself? Besides, who knows how many other people are in this carriage?
The children looked at each other again, wondering if, if a fight were to break out, the seven of them should all grab each other's arms and legs to hold one of them down, or split into two groups to help their mother?
Of course, they knew their own limitations; even if they all pitched in, they wouldn't be of much help. But they figured they could at least help their mother a little bit!
Hong Xiaoduo was no longer paying attention to the children's expressions. She was observing them and saw that they didn't look like wicked people, especially since they had just said they bought them with silver.
Perhaps it's because of his status, or because he's rich, that he's a bit arrogant?
If they really try to force me to buy it, and I refuse and a conflict ensues, can I defeat these two guards?
She had only drawn the sword from her waist to look at it; she had no idea how powerful this female knight was or how high her martial arts skills were.
She hadn't missed a single shot when hunting wild game in the woods, but she didn't dare assume she was a 100% accurate shooter.
Also, Hong Xiaoduo was just resting on the throne when she thought of another problem. She was tricked by that strange old man into coming here, and the script she was experiencing was not the one she chose. The plot at the beginning was seriously off-topic.
But she carries a sword. Even if she's not a female knight-errant, she must at least know martial arts. Otherwise, how could she be so good at throwing stones?
Embarrassingly, she remembered the way she threw the stones—the kind of casual way ordinary people throw stones. But skilled martial artists don't throw them like that with hidden weapons; they flick their wrists, making the movements elegant and graceful.
So, the most serious question is: do I actually know how to use a sword now?
If we really get into a fight later, would drawing a sword be useful? Would I even know how to use it? Should I hurry up and gather some stones to prepare before things escalate to that point?
"Seeing that you have so much prey, you must be experts at hunting. Why don't you go into the forest to hunt some more?" The man on horseback was taken aback when he saw that the young woman would refuse. He paused for a moment before speaking again.
Furthermore, he noticed that this young woman, who was not very old, was clearly lost in thought after rejecting him. Perhaps she was annoyed that she had said the wrong thing and was actually flustered and scared.
The other person's voice brought Hong Xiaoduo back to her senses. She looked at the person on horseback with some confusion: "What did you just say? I didn't hear you clearly. Could you please say it again?"
"You?" The man on horseback was furious. Looking at the serious expression on the face of the person sitting on the rock, he felt a sense of helplessness, like a scholar encountering a soldier. He thought to himself, "Whose young lady is this? Instead of staying in her room learning needlework, what is she doing leading a group of little beggars outside?"
The man on the other horse, who had remained silent until now, watching coldly, suddenly felt like laughing when he saw his companion get the short end of the stick. He didn't know why, but he couldn't help but speak up: "He said, seeing that you have so much game, you must be expert hunters. Why don't you just go into the forest to hunt again?"
"Fan Wu, if you don't speak, no one will think you're mute," the person who spoke earlier said, turning around and reminding him irritably.
Fan Wu, upon hearing his companion's accusations, calmly shrugged at Hong Xiaoduo.
Pfft, Hong Xiaoduo was amused instead.
"Hey, you little wench, you're still laughing? What's so funny? I've said it twice, you heard me clearly, right? Hurry up and pack it up and bring it over, you won't be shortchanged on the money you're owed." The man's mood worsened as he watched his companion get along quite well with this stubborn young woman.
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