Chapter 38

“What? She went with Master Lu?”

Zhang Xiu felt a buzz in her head when she heard this. Ever since she had transmigrated, she had felt an overwhelming sense of insecurity, stemming from hunger and the threat of roaming pursuers.

But never did she imagine that her family of three would be separated.

And now her daughter had suddenly been taken away by a man they’d never even met before—Master Lu. It was terrifying. What should she do?

“Ding Xue, tell Auntie exactly what happened. What did Master Lu say?” In her panic, Zhang Xiu grabbed Ding Xue’s shoulders, her anxious eyes wide and intense.

Ding Xue flinched. “You’re hurting my shoulders!”

“Then speak, quickly.” Zhang Xiu gave her a little shake.

This time, Ding Xue trembled in fear. Even Ding Shan, standing beside her, didn’t know what to do. Since they were little, they had never seen their timid aunt get angry like this.

Left with no choice, Ding Xue timidly recounted what had just happened. Perhaps fear unlocked her memory, because she even repeated Ding Xiaodie’s words verbatim.

Zhang Xiu asked urgently, “Xiaodie really said that?”

“She really did. She also said she’d bring back something delicious for you all.”

“Phew—”

If her daughter had really said that, then half of her worry could be set aside. Zhang Xiu patted her chest and slumped to the ground. “Thank you, Ding Xue.”

There were two possibilities: if Master Lu had taken Ding Xiaodie away against her will, then there might be danger. But if Xiaodie had chosen to go with him, then it was probably okay. That clever, mischievous girl must’ve come up with some plan again.

Ding Xue just stood there awkwardly. “…”

The two other village kids couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into tears with a loud wail.

Xiaodie had been taken away by someone. That was so scary. They were afraid they’d be taken too.

“Alright, alright, stop crying. We’re heading back now.” Zhang Xiu, now a bit calmer, stood up, her head aching. These kids were just too timid.

Honestly, if she hadn’t spoken up just then, Ding Xue might’ve started crying too. She was a bit of a bully in the village, but outside—faced with such a noble stranger—she’d already felt like crying.

Now hearing the other kids crying, her eyes turned red too. But since she was older than them, she held it in out of embarrassment.

When Zhang Xiu said they were going back, Ding Xue was the first to quickly head off.

Once home, Ding Xue finally let herself sob after holding it in all the way back.

Madam Zhu was startled, thinking her daughter had been bullied: “What happened? Tell Mama.”

Ding Xue couldn’t speak through her sobs. It was Ding Shan who quietly explained what had happened on the mountain.

After hearing it all, Madam Zhu hurried to wipe away her daughter’s tears. “Oh my goodness, how did something like this happen? You must be scared. It’s okay, it’s okay, you’re safe now, don’t cry!”

After comforting her daughter, she remembered the key part: “That little brat Ding Xiaodie was really taken away?”

Seeing her eldest son Ding Shan and younger son Ding Hao nod, Madam Zhu suddenly brightened. She grinned viciously and muttered, “Never thought that little girl would finally get her day.”

Her mind filled with horrible images: Ding Xiaodie, taken home by Master Lu, forced to be the lowest of servant girls—sweeping, scrubbing floors, emptying chamber pots, and serving every single member of his household.

“Mama, I’m hungry.”

Just as she was enjoying the thought, Ding Hao interrupted her.

Madam Zhu shot her younger son an annoyed look. “You’re always hungry. Let me see what you brought back.”

The boys held out the mushrooms they had wrapped in leaves.

In times like these, food was already scarce—let alone vegetables. While mushrooms weren’t quite the same as leafy greens, they were better than nothing.

Madam Zhu carefully inspected them—most were still edible.

“Bear with it a bit longer. I’ll cook mushroom soup for you tonight. When your father comes back, he can try some too. Tomorrow morning, you’ll take Mama up the mountain. I’ll go pick mushrooms as well.”

“Okay, Mama!”

Ding Hao didn’t dare say he was hungry again. He just obediently nodded.

Just then, Ding Shan suddenly saw Zhang Xiu pass by their doorway and whispered, “Mama, Auntie just went out!”

Madam Zhu quickly ran to the door to look.

She saw Zhang Xiu walking briskly and figured she must be going to find Ding Gui. Her only daughter had been taken—of course she’d be frantic.

But the more panicked that third household was, the more delighted Madam Zhu felt inside.

She was about to throw in a snide remark, but then she spotted the old matriarch standing not far from their door. Madam Zhu instantly backed away and waved to Ding Shan: “Close the door. Their family business is none of ours.”

—-

Zhang Xiu had indeed gone to find Ding Gui. After returning home, she’d sat in the kitchen sorting mushrooms, but seeing the black truffles brought her no joy.

Her daughter might be clever, but in the end she was still just a child. If someone meant her harm, she wouldn’t be able to protect herself.

The more Zhang Xiu thought about it, the more dazed she became.

Wang Dafeng came downstairs and, seeing she was alone, asked, “Where’s Xiaodie?”

Weren’t the mother and daughter supposed to go mushroom-picking together? Why had only the mother returned?

That question seemed to flip a switch in Zhang Xiu. She immediately made up her mind to find her husband so they could go bring Xiaodie back. Whether Xiaodie got them food or not didn’t matter at all.

“…?” Wang Dafeng was startled to see her daughter-in-law suddenly leap up like a madwoman. “Are you out of your mind? I asked you where Xiaodie is.”

“I’m going to find her right now.”

Zhang Xiu rushed outside.

Wang Dafeng stood there speechless. Has she gone crazy?

She quickly chased after her but only saw Zhang Xiu walking far down the street.

What on earth is going on? Wang Dafeng furrowed her brows, utterly confused.

Meanwhile, Zhang Xiu went from door to door down the street, asking around as she searched. Eventually, someone told her Ding Gui was up ahead. She picked up her pace.

Under the blazing sun, sweating heavily, Zhang Xiu finally found Ding Gui: “Gui, come out a sec.”

When she called from outside the house, Miao Dayou felt a pang of anxiety—was she here to argue because Ding Gui gave him food?

At this point, he could only apologize. “A’Gui, if she starts arguing, just say the food’s still here. I’ll go grab some now.”

“It’s fine, don’t worry. Just stay here for a bit.” Ding Gui patted Miao Dayou’s shoulder, signaling for him to relax.

If nothing else, he knew his wife well. Zhang Xiu wasn’t the kind to start a fight over a little food. Especially in this day and age, she’d always had sympathy for their fellow villagers.

So he put down his work and stepped outside. “What’s wrong, honey?”