Master Mei added, “The meat bun costs five wen. Technically, you should cover my food and lodging expenses, but considering your young age, I won’t bother with that.”

Feng Yuanyuan’s smile froze.

With a glance at the roasted buns she had placed in the cupboard earlier, Feng Yuanyuan retracted her hand, saying, “I brought some dry food; you can have the meat bun yourself.”

She took out a roasted bun and contentedly began to eat.

Master Mei smiled, withdrew his hand, and closed the cart door.

The roasted buns were made the day before, and they were tough. Feng Yuanyuan drank a lot of water to wash them down.

Having eaten her fill, she continued to lie on the bed, staring into space until she drifted off to sleep.

The mule cart occasionally bumped along, and Feng Yuanyuan shifted positions. Apart from sleeping, she didn’t know what else to do.

As the day turned dark, the two arrived at a small village.

This area still falls under the jurisdiction of Heyang County, but it’s more than thirty miles away from the county seat. Even if Old Man Li discovers that Feng Yuanyuan is missing and rushes to report to the authorities, given Old Man Li’s status, the government would likely delay sending someone to investigate until the next day. Moreover, cases of missing children are often attributed to elusive child traffickers and often go unresolved.

Master Mei wasn’t worried at all that Old Man Li would find his way to him.

The village had no inns, but Master Mei had a friend there—a middle-aged couple with a pair of children.

The couple warmly welcomed Master Mei, and they never asked about Feng Yuanyuan’s background or where Master Mei intended to go.

After dinner, the woman took her daughter to sleep with Feng Yuanyuan, leaving her son to her husband and Master Mei in another room.

“Sister, you’re so pretty.”

The couple’s nine-year-old daughter, whose bed was next to Feng Yuanyuan’s, began to speak kindly before sleep.

However, the woman quickly told her to be quiet, then pulled her daughter to Feng Yuanyuan’s bed, hugging her with her back turned. The daughter protested and coaxed, but the woman scolded and cajoled, quickly calming the child.

Feng Yuanyuan silently watched and listened.

Her mother had passed away very early, so early that there was no memory of her in Feng Yuanyuan’s recollections. She couldn’t even remember her father’s face.

But she remembered Grandma Li. When she was sick or in need of comfort, Grandma Li used to hold her in her arms and tell her stories in a gentle and soothing voice.

Now, she had become a true orphan.

The next morning, Feng Yuanyuan woke up to the conversation between the mother and daughter. Turning over, she saw the woman folding two sets of dresses into an open bundle.

“Awake already? These are shoes my daughter wore when she was seven. See if they fit.”

The woman smiled at Feng Yuanyuan and picked up a pair of embroidered shoes from the side.

The embroidered shoes were mostly new, with a white base and surface, adorned with a few pink-thread peach blossoms.

“My mother made these; I really like them. I usually can’t bear to wear them, and then they become too small.”

The woman’s daughter expressed her regret.

Feng Yuanyuan was still confused, not understanding why the woman was being so kind to her.

“Give them a try,” the woman urged gently.

Feng Yuanyuan hesitantly tried on the shoes, took a few steps on the ground, and they fit perfectly.

“Then consider them a gift. Wear this outfit today, and keep the other two for changing.”

The woman didn’t allow Feng Yuanyuan to refuse, making the decision in just a few words.

During breakfast, the woman even peeled an egg for Feng Yuanyuan.

Feng Yuanyuan ate very slowly.

Master Mei drank his porridge and ate his bread heartily without saying a word. Once they finished, he took her back to the carriage.

The woman and her daughter waved happily at Feng Yuanyuan.

Feng Yuanyuan responded with a smile.

“Do you want to stay here?”

After the carriage had traveled some distance, Mei Ye suddenly spoke.

Feng Yuanyuan remained silent.

Mei Ye continued, “The couple here is indeed reliable, but their willingness to treat you well for one night doesn’t necessarily mean they’d be willing to do so for five or ten years. Even for blood relatives who have been together for a long time, conflicts can arise. For outsiders, disagreements can be even more damaging, especially when the family is not well-off; it’s easy to be petty.”

Feng Yuanyuan understood.

She thought of the beautiful woman in her dream, wearing ethereal silk and adorned with jewel-encrusted jewelry. Clearly, the woman was wealthy.

Did Lord Fu think that finding her a wealthy family would be more suitable?

In reality, Feng Yuanyuan wasn’t picky. She only wished for a kind-hearted family; poverty was not an issue. She would help with farming and cooking, never expecting a free ride.

Unfortunately, such matters required mutual agreement. It wasn’t about her finding someone good; it depended on whether both sides were willing.