Chapter 86: Parting Ways

Yang Lizheng still wanted to stay, but Su Yin shook her head and refused.

“Third Ancestor, I have thought this through.”

Yang Lizheng still did not give up, “Let’s go down the mountain first. When we get to the official road, you can change your mind if you want.”

Su Yin nodded.

She should have been happy to get water, but the atmosphere in the team was very depressing.

The seven family members headed by Su Yin naturally walked together and moved to the front.

Su Yin walked up to Mr. Wan San and asked, “Have you finished the sign?”

“Okay.” Mr. Wan San handed over a wooden sign.

There was a line of words written on the wooden sign: “There is water on the mountain.”

Su Yin always felt that there was something off about it, so she had an idea, took the fire stick from Wan Sanye’s hand, and drew a little turtle at the end.

Wan Sanye’s lips twitched, “What does this mean?”

“It’s beautiful.”

It was just a drawing; there are so many details and explanations, and she did it casually!

“You are kind-hearted. You even made a sign to remind people behind you.”

Are you kind-hearted?

Maybe!

Maybe it’s selfish.

If the people behind have water, they won’t rob others’ water just for a little water.

On the official road, Su Baozhu volunteered to insert the sign.

The people in Qianshan Village were resting not far away. Su Yin did not immediately distance herself from the people in Xinghua Village but followed the large group for a while.

After leaving the people of Qianshan Village far behind, Su Yin said goodbye to Yang Lizheng and other clan elders and villagers.

“Third Grandma, I can’t go with you for the rest of the journey.”

Yang Lizheng found Su Yin again and said, “Girl Su, have you really thought about it?”

“I’ve thought about it clearly; it’s better to separate.”

Yang Lizheng sighed helplessly, “It’s us who dragged you down.”

“What did you say?”

“The road ahead is long. If you encounter any difficulties, just remember to come back to us.”

“Yeah.” Su Yin reassured her, “But let me remind you, Third Grandma, you must keep an eye on the Dazhuang family in the future, and leave as soon as possible to maintain distance from Qianshan Village.

The people in Qianshan Village are insidious and cunning, and I can’t guarantee that someone won’t fall for them.”

“Okay. I will remember that.”

Yang Lizheng was very reluctant to let Su Yin leave, but she could also feel her determination.

They were the ones holding her back.

Why! He also wanted to leave, but he felt a sense of duty. Since he had that title, he had to fulfill his responsibilities.

Aunt Wang held Su Yin’s hand with a look of reluctance on her face, “Girl, I really can’t let you go.”

Su Yin hugged Aunt Wang and patted her back gently, “Aunt Wang, see you later.”

The other families also said their goodbyes one by one, each expressing their well-wishes and reluctance to part.

Butcher Yang held Yang Dashu’s hand and said, “You really don’t want to follow us?”

“No, I’m an old man with a young family, so I don’t dare to gamble. If it’s just my husband and me, it would be okay to go with you.”

“Take care.”

“Take care.”

The group of seven small families had a richer family dynamic than the others in Xinghua Village, except for Madam Xu’s family.

Between the seven families, there were three animals.

Su Yin had a mule, Butcher Yang had a cow, and the three uncles shared a cow.

This configuration was quite advantageous.

To make the journey easier, Su Yin asked the children to sit on the mule cart or the ox cart. This way, the children wouldn’t slow everyone down because of their tired feet.

Due to a foot injury, Su’s mother also sat in the cart with the young baby.

They walked very quickly, and in the blink of an eye, they were far away from Xinghua Village.

The people in Xinghua Village watched their departing figures, some sighed, and some felt envious.

“It’s all gone well.”

“Yeah, all the good things are gone.”

“Huh, I don’t think the Da Zhuang family should be left behind.” Yang Dashu’s wife glanced back behind her, dissatisfied.

“Several clan elders have spoken; what can be done?”

“Hey…”

The Da Zhuang family could clearly feel that the neighbors around them disliked them.

They felt uncomfortable but did not dare to show it, instead wearing flattering smiles.

Yang Lizheng saw that people’s hearts were restless and said to everyone, “Everyone, if you just pull together, you can go a long way, and then you can hope to survive in this world.

The next time something like this happens, no matter who comes to plead for mercy, it will be useless.”

When he said this, Yang Lizheng glanced at the Da Zhuang family.

Several clan elders also clearly felt the tension in the group.

Someone said quietly, “I wonder if we are doing this right?”

“Don’t think about it. It has happened, so let’s move forward.”

Su Yin and her group of thirty-seven people walked very quickly.

There were no stops along the way. If anyone got tired, they would catch the cart, and another person would come down to push or pull it, with everyone taking turns.

The older children also took turns resting in the cart, while the younger ones either rode in the cart or were carried by their mothers on their backs.

After coming down from the mountain, they walked along the official road.

They didn’t stop until the sun was about to set.

“There is a village ahead.”

Under the setting sun, a small mountain village surrounded by hills was illuminated by golden light. It was unusually quiet, with no smoke curling up from chimneys.

Su Yin said, “We will rest there tonight.”

Both the older and younger members of the group sighed in relief when they heard that they could finally rest.

They hadn’t taken a break all afternoon, which had really worn them out.

“Let’s go!”

As they approached the village, the dilapidated houses gave off an air of decay.

Su Yin looked at the obvious axle marks on the ground. The marks were very new and should have been left recently.

“Everyone, be careful.”

As they drew nearer to the village, they found that the relatively well-preserved houses in front of them were all occupied.

It was none other than Si Wensheng’s group.

The other side also noticed Su Yin and her party.

Su Yin nodded slightly and greeted the leader, the handsome scholar, smiling politely at him.

The two parties had a tacit agreement not to engage in too much conversation and naturally moved apart without disturbing each other.

“Let’s go to the back.”

The house at the end of the village was much worse than the ones at the front, but they found a relatively intact house to settle into.

“Everyone, please don’t stay separately. We’ll make do with each other here tonight.”

No one had any objections.

In the dilapidated courtyard at the end of the village, a burly man handed roasted rabbit meat to Mr. Si Wensheng. “Young Master, there seem to be only a few of them.”

Mr. Si Wensheng tore off a piece of rabbit leg and ate it slowly, his voice light, “Very good. Interesting.”

It was rare for a little girl to be so decisive and bold.

The burly man thought for a moment and said, “Young Master, the fun game you mentioned before, couldn’t it be this, right?”

Mr. Si Wensheng was noncommittal.

The burly man covered his face, realizing that his young master was good at everything except for teasing people.

Of course, to use the young master’s own words, human nature is very interesting, and it becomes even more fascinating to tease.