CH 164

The oxcart was carrying several refugees who were leaving the city to return to their hometowns, they were dressed in rags, and their bodies were smelling. The soldiers at the city gate were a bit disgusted by the smell coming from the oxcart, and let them go after a few quick glances.

Ming Zhu had not bathed for many days, she felt that she was now stinking all over her body, she was unable to stand it anymore, and she said in a small voice: “I want to take a bath so badly.”

Hong Ling seriously thought about it and told her, “When it gets dark soon, let’s go to the river to wash up.”

In disbelief, Ming Zhu said, “Ah!? By the river?” She squirmed a little from embarrassment and said, “Then I’d rather not wash for now.”

Hong Ling said, “I’ll stand watch for you, don’t be afraid ah.” She looked at Ming Zhu, and went on to say, “I’ve long since figured out that you must not have lived a hard life before, but now that you are destitute, don’t put on a lady’s attitude.”

In the past, Hong Ling used to hate noble ladies, but these days, now that she was interacting with one, she felt that she had a good character, and she thought that this person wasn’t bad at all. That was why she was willing to help her a little. If it were someone else, she wouldn’t bother to even talk to her.

Ming Zhu blushed a little at her words, she explained in a warm voice: “I didn’t put on an attitude, I’m afraid of being seen by people.”

“I’ve told you, I’ll stand watch for you, but if you really can’t bring yourself to do it, then you’ll have to wait for us to settle down before you can take a bath.” Hong Ling was raised by an old beggar, she could endure being dirty, spending ten days or even half a month without bathing was no matter to her.

Ming Zhu thought about it, she raised her eyes to look at Hong Ling, and then made up her mind, “Then you help me stand watch.”

When it was about to get dark, Ming Zhu held her bag, and went together with Hong Ling to the little stream at the back of the hill, they found a blue pond where the view was blocked. She took off her shoes and socks, and entered the pond, the pond water was icy-cold, her hands and feet curled up, her teeth were chattering from the cold, but she endured the cold, and took a quick bath.

Hong Ling felt that she was not dirty at all. When she saw that she had finished bathing, she handed her clean clothes.

Ming Zhu took off the wet clothes on her body and changed into her usual clothes.

Hong Ling kept turning her back to her and was starting to get a little impatient from the wait, “Zhu Zhu, are you done changing yet?”

Ming Zhu tied the last sash, “I’m done now.”

Hong Ling turned around and when she saw the beauty shrouded in the moonlight, she froze for a moment, before she sincerely and honestly said, “You’re quite beautiful.”

Like a lotus fresh out of water, pure and beautiful.

Hong Ling didn’t have much education and knowledge, Zhu Zhu was probably the most beautiful girl she had ever seen in her life.

The dress Ming Zhu had just changed into was a little tight around the waist, her belly was getting bigger and bigger, it was obvious that it wasn’t really suitable on the waist, but she had no other extra change of clothes, so she could only put up with it and wear it.

Although Hong Ling was a sloppy person, but her eyes were not blind, she looked at Ming Zhu’s slightly protruding belly, “You are pregnant!?”

Ming Zhu looked slightly panicked and held her hand in front of her belly, “Mmh.”

“Where is your husband?”

Ming Zhu pursed the corners of her mouth, not knowing how to answer.

Hong Ling inevitably thought about the matter in a crooked way, and in surprise, revealed her suspicion: “Don’t tell me you had a secret lover …… and then ……”

Ming Zhu looked quite young, she looked candid and inexperienced, she didn’t look like a married woman. She had probably been deceived by a scum man and had fallen for his trick, which was why she was forced to escape from home.

Ming Zhu went along her words and nodded: “Right.”

Hong Ling felt the urge to poke her brain with her finger, “You’re too stupid.”

Ming Zhu smiled, “I’m indeed not smart.”

At this moment, the look in Hong Ling’s eyes carried even more sympathy, she seriously told her, “Men are not trustworthy, there was also a man who wanted to sleep with me, he even said that he was going to marry me.”

She usually made a living by stealing and cheating. That day when she happened to touch the man’s money purse, she was caught by him red-handed.

He didn’t report it to the police bureau, and instead, he treated her to a meal.

Hong Ling didn’t think she had run into a good guy, and sure enough, within a few days, the man showed his true colors.

Hong Ling was knocked unconscious by him, and he ran away.

She intensified her tone and repeated: “That’s right, not a word a man says can be trusted.”

Just as she finished this sentence, Ming Zhu’s stomach grumbled.

There were still a few large steamed buns in Ming Zhu’s bag, and although they were already cold, it was better to have something to eat than nothing at all.

She silently nibbled on two big steamed buns and drank half a pot of water to fill her stomach.

Ming Zhu touched her stomach, lifted her head, and said to Hong Ling, “Let’s go back.”

Hong Ling grabbed her arm and shook her head at her, “We can’t go back.”

There were all kinds of people mixed together in the oxcart. Although she had deliberately smeared ashes on her face, but that wouldn’t stop people with bad intentions.

(TL’s note : I must admit that I forgot about Hong Ling, that character. In the previous chapters, I thought she was a little girl but she is a young girlyoung woman, in Chinese it’s really difficult to tell the difference between a little and a young girl, the same word is used for both (xiao guniang), but I guess that Hong Ling is a young girl around Ming Zhu’s age, maybe younger)