160, Changes (2 more updates)
After dinner.
Xie Zhinuan went to wash her hair again, then sat in the yard waiting for her hair to dry, but ended up falling asleep in the rocking chair.
The foolish girl entered the room, brought out a thin blanket, and covered her with it.
Xie Zhinuan had a dream.
A very unpleasant dream.
In the dream, she was captured by that despicable Princely Heir, then wantonly abused. She resisted and got beaten, was locked in a cage, and in the end, was given away to an old man, even more vicious than the Princely Heir. Every day he whipped her, she kept resisting, until finally, she drew a dagger and stabbed the old man full of bloody holes-the blood spilled everywhere…
“Ah!” Xie Zhinuan cried out, suddenly opening her eyes, lying on the chair and quietly looking at the night sky.
Tears fell from the corners of her eyes.
“Miss?” the foolish girl softly called.
Xie Zhinuan spoke tenderly, raising her hand to gently wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes.
These were the emotions brought from the dream, so sad, helpless, and desperate. Even stabbing with the dagger over and over couldn’t soothe the anger in her heart.
“Miss, did you have a nightmare?” the foolish girl asked with concern.
“Hmm!” Xie Zhinuan responded, exhaling softly.
She absolutely did not want to become what she was in the dream, absolutely not.
If one was treated as a plaything, with no control over their own life or death, what was the point of living?
“Miss, dreams are often contrary!”
Xie Zhinuan chuckled lightly, “Whether they are contrary or not is not important. It’s just that the Xie Zhinuan of the future will no longer be the Xie Zhinuan of today!”
Now, as well as before, she had hidden her sharp edges, became a bit kinder, and lacked the ambition for fame and profit.
In the future…
Earning money and cultivating her own power was the primary duty, always to have the ability and capital to protect herself.
“Miss…” the foolish girl softly called.
She could also feel the change in Xie Zhinuan’s mentality.
Although she was still the same person, her nature was becoming colder.
“It’s okay, go back to sleep in the room!” Xie Zhinuan said, and called upon the three pets, carrying the thin blanket back to her room.
Lying in bed, because of the nightmare, her mind was exceptionally clear.
Leaning on a mountain that may collapse, relying on people who may leave; one must still depend on oneself.
Xie Zhinuan thought that she should go into the mountains herself, bringing the three pets with her, as long as she didn’t venture too deep, it would be safe.
As for the gentleman across the street, Xie Zhinuan thought better to avoid troubling him if possible-debts of gratitude were meant to be repaid.
She couldn’t afford it.
Having thought it through, Xie Zhinuan closed her eyes and pondered the things she needed to bring to the mountains.
Early in the morning, Xie Zhinuan got up early. Aunt Chen and the foolish girl heard noises and came to help. Xie Zhinuan then asked, “Aunt Chen, how was the business at the shop yesterday?”
“It was incredibly good. The stewed meat from the morning Xiaoyuan said sold even faster than yesterday. We stewed knuckles and meat at noon and sold noodles for twenty wen a bowl-it went well, too. But the main thing was the stewed meat, which was bought by wealthy families. After noon, there was basically nothing left!” Aunt Chen said, still somewhat excited.
Xiaoyuan’s cooking skills were not bad, and her stewed meat was good too. Xie Zhinuan had tasted it, and there was no problem with the flavor; it was just quite busy.
Xie Zhinuan nodded.
“Then, can you handle it?”
“Xiaoyuan said today she called her sister and brother-in-law to help, otherwise they really couldn’t handle it!”
Xie Zhinuan, upon hearing this, felt a bit more at ease.
Still, she decided to go to the town to check things out and give Xiaoyuan some tips on the details.
As Yuanbao was not around, only the foolish girl could deliver breakfast. After she returned and they had breakfast, Xie Zhinuan hitched up the mule cart and headed to town.
Chastened from before, Dahuang, although still running, did not bolt wildly. The wolf and the dog also obediently sat on the mule cart, behaving as if the earlier ruckus had nothing to do with them!
Chapter 162