Wufu left the town and sat down in a tea pavilion to rest her feet, frowning as she watched the dirty and timid Liu Jin cautiously watching her.
"I have said it, I’m not interested in taking on any servants. Purchasing you was merely a moment of compassionate help, and I’ve given back your deed of sale. You can wander all over the world," Wufu swallowed a gulp of cool tea and said indifferently, "And you can read."
In those days, being literate could land many odd jobs.
Liu Jin looked at the tea and two large pancakes on the table and swallowed his saliva, saying hoarsely, "A life-saving grace is like a gushing spring; it must be repaid. I am your servant."
He wasn’t stupid. With his face and at his age, it was unsafe to go anywhere, and it was hard to have a full belly. Better to follow the woman in front of him.
Instinctively, he felt safe with her, at least he didn’t have to worry about being sold to dirty places.
Wufu gave him hope and opportunity; he had to seize it, otherwise, he had only a dead end.
Wufu snorted coldly, "Doesn’t keeping a servant cost silver? I have no money."
In truth, she wasn’t without money but didn’t want the burden. She bought him only because of the stubbornness and will to survive in his eyes, not because she truly wanted a servant.
"All I need is something to eat," Liu Jin approached and said, "I can do anything, and I don’t need monthly money, just enough to eat."
"Food costs money, don’t you know how expensive grain is now? Boy, I’m not from some wealthy household, just a peasant girl, I don’t have that much food to eat, and there are still two mouths to feed at home," Wufu showed him the way, "If you’re willing to be a servant, you could get by in a wealthy household, better off than following me."
"I won’t go, I am yours and won’t follow others," Liu Jin said stubbornly.
Wufu’s mouth twitched, "Suit yourself, but don’t follow me."
She stood up, paid for the tea, didn’t touch the pancakes and tea on the table, slung her basket on her back, and left.
Seeing this, Liu Jin did not hesitate to pick up the bowl of unfinished tea, drink it, then take the large pancakes and tuck them into his bosom and followed her.
The two walked one after the other towards Wozi Village, with Wufu’s steps quick, and Liu Jin matching her pace, whether she went fast or slow.
The difference was that Wufu wore a bamboo hat to shield herself from the sun, while Liu Jin had nothing, and the blazing sun of July made his head dizzied and his vision blurred, but he still staggered on.
Wufu looked back and saw his faltering steps, but he was still following her stubbornly; she couldn’t help but click her tongue in disapproval.
First, it was Hongyu who wanted to follow her, and now comes another—it’s like she’s a magnet, why are they all clinging to her?
And this time it was a teenage boy; their home was filled with women, how could that be convenient?
He followed her all the way into the village, where Wufu stopped and said, "You see, I really am not from a wealthy family, just a village girl."
"I know," Liu Jin said. But what does it matter? If you get down to it, he’s just a child born to a former brothel woman!
Then why are you still following me?
Wufu really wanted to ask this but looking at his stubborn eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything.
Under the curious gaze of the villagers, Wufu walked through the village and returned to her house at the foot of the mountain, finally breaking into a smile.
But her smile quickly faded because two people emerged from her house—wasn’t it Madam Lu and Zhou Xiuer?
What are they doing here again?
Seeing Wufu, Madam Lu and her daughter were also stunned, showing some embarrassment and wariness.
Still, Zhou Xiuer reacted quickly, pushing her mother’s hand away and greeting with a smile, "Cousin, you’re back?"