The siblings Su Muqing were considered a burden by many now. The villagers simply hadn't voiced it out of politeness.
However, if that burden were to include another powerless orphan, such a combination would be a complete drag on the fleeing group. It was estimated that those people would no longer be willing to show consideration for Su Mingyuan.
"I can work. Whatever they do, I will do. Sister, Auntie, don't mind that I'm thin. I can do anything. I did almost all the chores around the house by myself. I won't be lazy." Lin Rongrong became anxious when Wang Shi and Su Muqing spoke like that.
Her mind was now solely focused on staying with Su Muqing. If she couldn't follow this kind sister, she didn't know what she would do in the future!
Seeing the anxiety in Lin Rongrong's eyes, Su Muqing felt truly unbearable. Just as she was about to kneel and plead again, Su Muqing quickly pulled her up.
"That's enough, don't kneel anymore. I promise. I'll just consider you an extra sister, an extra family member. Quickly wipe your tears, we'll walk this path together from now on." Su Muqing said as she wiped away her tears.
As soon as she finished speaking, a voice echoed in her mind. "Ding! Congratulations to the host for gaining 100 gratitude points, convertible to 10 contribution points!"
So, there were contribution points now? No wonder 217 told her to do more good deeds!
Seeing that Su Muqing had agreed just like that, Wang Shi thought she had softened her heart, unable to refuse seeing the pitiful young girl.
Wang Shi sighed inwardly. Although Su Muqing usually appeared steady in her speech and actions, she was still a child after all and didn't consider things comprehensively.
In this current era, how could one casually take someone in out of sympathy? How many such people would they encounter on this journey? If they helped everyone they saw who was pitiful, how could they help them all?
Wang Shi intended to persuade her again, but Su Cuiping tugged at her clothes from behind. She turned to look and saw her daughter's eyes filled with pleading. Suddenly, she felt, was she being too heartless?
She used to detest such injustices! Wang Shi looked at Lin Rongrong, who was wearing patched clothes, was thirteen years old, and was as thin as a reed. After hearing Su Muqing agree to take her in, tears fell from her eyes like beads from a broken string, one large drop after another!
As Wang Shi watched, she stopped persuading. She suddenly felt that a little bit of her compassion, which had been worn away by the hardship of fleeing, had returned...
Never mind! After all, it was a life. She couldn't bear to see the young girl so alone. In this disaster year where death had become commonplace, doing more good deeds, she hoped heaven would see and grant her some blessings!
However, this would inevitably require discussing it with her family to see how to arrange it without causing too much resentment from the villagers!
After all, the hardship and danger of searching for supplies each time was considerable. The environment was harsh and finding things was difficult. If it weren't for their own family not starving or dying of thirst, few people would be willing to do such things!
Alas! If it really came down to it, they would have to let their own family members go out more often! Thinking of this, Wang Shi began to regret it a little. But she was an adult and couldn't agree to something and then go back on her word.
Next time, she must stop the two girls from meddling in other people's affairs!
Wang Shi patted Lin Rongrong's shoulder. "Alright! Stop crying. Follow Sister Muqing well from now on. You should treat each other like family. Little Rong, you also need to help your sister take care of your younger brother. I'll go talk to your uncle later to see how to arrange things specifically. However, if the village needs everyone to do something together in the future, you two must go to one of them. Otherwise, I'm afraid others will have opinions."
Lin Rongrong was overjoyed to hear Su Muqing's agreement. She nodded incessantly, unable to stop the tears, so happy she could barely speak.
Hearing Wang Shi's words, Lin Rongrong repeatedly assured, "Yes, yes, I will listen to Auntie and follow Sister well. I'll take care of my younger brother from now on. I'll do many things too. Thank you, Sister, thank you, Auntie..."
"Alright, alright! Is this girl made of water? So many tears. If you cry like this, aren't you afraid of getting thirsty? Water is so precious now! Stop crying, let's go over there!" Wang Shi teased Lin Rongrong a few times, then holding the younger ones, she led the girls to find Su Minghui.
When they found Su Minghui, Wang Shi briefly explained the situation to him. Su Minghui frowned. Adding another young girl wasn't a big deal. The key was that this girl was joining Su Muqing's family! This presented a slight obstacle.
Although he was the village chief, he couldn't just do as he pleased. When it involved the villagers' own interests, he couldn't repeatedly use the excuse of expelling people from the team to coerce them! If they were pushed too far, coercion would be useless!
Seeing Su Minghui fall silent, Wang Shi couldn't help but nudge his arm. "Say something! It's just a young girl, she won't eat much. When the village needs to cook, the girl can help too."
Lin Rongrong nodded repeatedly upon hearing Wang Shi's words, looking at Su Minghui with a nervous yet expectant expression. She knew the man in front of her was the village chief. Everything in the village had to be agreed upon by him. If he disagreed, her sister couldn't keep her.
"Don't you understand? It's not about how much she eats?" Su Minghui pushed away Wang Shi's hand. Considering Su Muqing was present, he spoke with hesitation.
He couldn't tell them that after only a day, some families were already unwilling for Su Muqing's siblings to use the resources found by the village! If they couldn't go out to find them, they should exchange them for grain! Su Mingyuan had prepared plenty of grain, and the siblings didn't eat much, so they should share some with those in the village who went out to find supplies.
Su Minghui guessed that it was a cunning scheme devised by people from the old Su family. However, other families were indeed envious of what Su Mingyuan had left behind. Incapable of resisting the provocation, they came to him and told him.
He severely criticized those people. "Now the siblings still have grain to eat, but you've only used a little water, and you've already started plotting to get their things. Have you forgotten how Mingyuan died? You people... really... Even if it really comes to the point where we have to find food, Su Muqing's siblings' supplies should be shared within our family. If we have one more person in our family, isn't that enough? Are you now trying to calculate who contributed the most?"
Seeing Su Minghui about to get angry as he spoke, and hearing the sarcasm and his assurance in his words, everyone sullenly changed their tune, saying they were just offering suggestions. Only then did they reluctantly suppress the matter for the time being. But now...