Chapter 78

Chapter 78

The setting sun cast a crimson glow over the evening.

Jiang Mianmian sat beside the stove on a straw mat.

Playing with the small ants in her hands.

She was no longer afraid of the tiny ants now.

Growing up, her courage had grown as well.

The ants crawled in her palm as she clenched and opened her fist, over and over.

The little ants entertained her by making various movements.

Jiang Mianmian giggled at their antics.

In a world with few toys for children, one had to invent their own amusement.

Otherwise, infancy would seem endlessly long.

Jiang Mianmian officially named the little black ant Jiang Xiaoshu.

Before, she dared not give it a name, fearing it would make her responsible for it.

If it died, replacing it with another ant wouldn't be the same.

Without a name, it seemed interchangeable, like keeping fish – one group dies, another replaces them, identical.

After playing with Jiang Xiaoshu for a while, she crawled over to play with the big white horse.

The white horse loved putting its head close to Mianmian, and she would use her little claws to play with its mane.

Girls all liked playing with things like this, similar to Barbie dolls.

Jiang Mianmian braided the mane of the horse, sometimes tying it into knots.

Without Barbie dolls, she had to play with the horse's head instead.

The rest of the family busied themselves packing things.

Occasionally, they would glance at Mianmian.

Seeing her chubby figure sitting there, busy with the horse's head, couldn't help but bring a smile to their faces.

Even though the whole family was preparing for a frantic escape, the sight of the baby, earnestly braiding the horse's mane in the sunset, touched the softest part of their hearts.

...

Jiang Changtian cooked for everyone.

He lit the fire, added water, chopped vegetables, and stirred the pot with a long spoon.

From the outside, only his silhouette could be seen.

A gentleman should stay out of the kitchen, but he was skilled at cooking.

He used to have no idea about meat.

Now he knew which grasses were edible, which weren't, and which could be eaten in desperation.

These days were truly bitter, incredibly so.

He couldn't accept it.

Why did it have to be like this?

Jie Xi could even sacrifice herself for a better future.

In this chaotic world, without struggle, one would only perish miserably.

He was filled with anger and frustration.

He knew he wasn't acting normally because he had just met Old Lady Jiang today.

Old Lady Jiang said, "Why haven't you died yet? You should die. You're a calamity, and so are your children."

With her benevolent appearance, gentle demeanor, and elegant beauty.

Her words were sharper than any blade.

He held a knife, slicing the dried meat thinly, piece by piece, as if it were a form of torture.

Because someone who cared asked, he had the right to say it hurt, the right to shed tears.

His eyes were slightly red as he looked at his wife.

Qin Luoxia also imitated her daughter's appearance, blowing carefully.

"It's okay, it's okay, it won't hurt with cold water. Next time, I'll cook."

Jiang Changtian smiled, his face full of tear marks, "No, Luoxia, in the future, we'll have a big house to live in, with servants, and cooks to prepare meals. You won't have to cook, really."

Qin Luoxia was amused by her husband's words.

What big house, servants galore, she didn't dare to even think about it; she just wanted everyone to be safe and sound.

It would be good if the children could eat and dress warmly.

Tonight, they still had to hide from the bandits.

All households were preparing.

Sixth Aunt's family has two sons and two daughters, both daughters married off to villages outside, essentially sold for a good price, fetching a high dowry, which was actually selling daughters for money.

In a normal family, why would they pay so much? Those willing to pay more inevitably have some issues; those who care for their daughters would not let them marry off like that.

The eldest son already lives separately, with Sixth Aunt finding him lacking.

The younger son is idle and spends extravagantly, which Sixth Aunt finds appealing.

Both Sixth Aunt and her husband are idle and lazy, resembling each other.

Seeing others packing, the husband asks, "Should we pack too?"

Sixth Aunt replies, "I'll go ask Lord Liu, that Second Jiang is very cunning, who knows if he's up to something."

The whole village is busy preparing food, with a festive air reminiscent of New Year's.

Because of the impending evacuation, people worry about not having enough to eat, so they decide to consume their stored food tonight. Even if they die, they'll have a full meal. Better than starving ghosts.

Sixth Aunt hobbles over to Lord Liu's house.

Lord Liu's household remains unchanged.

This reassures her.

Lord Liu sees Sixth Aunt coming to inquire about hiding.

He chuckles.

Seated in his ornate chair, he shakes his tobacco pouch.

"Such a bunch of lowlifes, always believing rumors. The bandits from Jǐ Mountain County are heading to the provincial capital, why would they come here? Hide things, hide away. What do they have to steal? They don't even have a bowl of rice at home."

In this village, Lord Liu knows everything about every family.

Any family borrowing something from him has it noted down.

Only Second Jiang's family has a good horse, a good daughter, and some treasures gifted by a gentleman from the capital.

In the past six months, Second Jiang's family hasn't borrowed anything from them, despicable.

Hearing Lord Liu's words, Sixth Aunt relaxes, seizing the opportunity to flatter, "It's all Second Jiang spreading rumors, I reckon he doesn't want his precious daughter to enjoy your favor."

Beside him, Old Madam Liu, plump and amiable, smiles, "The girl is stubborn, a few beatings after she enters our house, and she'll behave. As for the horse, my son needs a good one."

Although initially wary of Second Jiang, over the years, they haven't seen his family act against them, like a featherless chicken, anyone can eat him.

Lord Liu doesn't allow anyone in the village to have a better life than him.

Those who are unfilial and disobedient are lowlifes, no matter how much they study, play with swords, or ride horses, they should be slaves for life, bearing children to serve.

Lord Liu nods in agreement, crossing his legs.

He has dominated the village for many years, boasting that he knows the number of ants in the village. These people are all lowlifes, unable to escape his control.

That night, Jiang Mianmian's family really headed into the mountains.

Jiang Mianmian tied to her mother, her brother dragging her along, her father dragging the horse, followed by a long line of ants...

It seems like all the ants in the entire village are on the move.

Lord Liu looked up when he saw a group of ants bustling under the eaves, scurrying out. He lifted his brows in wonder, gazing at the darkening sky: Was a storm brewing?