These two taels of silver, no less than four or five liang, wasn't that a considerable amount!
And why did the master dote on this little girl so much, as if she were his own daughter, his gaze so incredibly gentle…
"M-master, then how much do you think should be rewarded?" the man asked, bowing his waist.
The old man shifted his body and sat up from the carriage, "Give her all the silver you have on you!"
"Huh?" The man's eyes widened in disbelief, "M-master, our travel funds aren't much. If all the silver is given to her, how will we manage the rest of the journey?"
In this godforsaken place, where there wasn't even a money changer, they wouldn't have anywhere to deposit their money even if they had it…
After much thought, the old man unfastened the jade pendant from his waist and placed it into little Xi Tian's hand, "Yun girl, take this! This is my reward for you!"
Little Xi Tian lowered her head and looked at the jade pendant. Regardless of the material or craftsmanship, this jade pendant was top-notch. Moreover, having been worn for many years, the jade had become even more lustrous and smooth, clearly a valuable item…
"Uncle, really, you don't need to!" Little Xi Tian returned the jade pendant again, "Helping you was just a small gesture. How could I accept such a grand gift!"
Seeing that the girl was not greedy and was also very polite, the old man became even more pleased.
Was this truly a child from the countryside who had never been to school?
Looking at the girl's demeanor and conversation, she didn't seem like an ordinary farm child…
Could it be that she was truly a once-in-a-century prodigy?
"Take it if I give it to you. In the future, I still hope Yun girl will take care of me more!" the old man said with a smile.
Little Xi Tian was slightly taken aback.
Take care of him more? It was just a chance encounter. Was the old uncle traveling the same way as them?
Seeing the girl's confused expression, the old man tucked the jade pendant into her small satchel again, "I also wish to visit Dashui Village, so along the way, I will have to trouble Yun girl a lot…"
Upon hearing this, little Xi Tian's big eyes lit up, "Wow, Uncle is also going to Dashui Village?"
It seemed their home was about to get lively again.
The old man grunted, "I'm going to visit a relative!"
"Huh? Uncle has relatives in Dashui Village? Who are they?" little Xi Tian asked curiously.
Besides, after talking for so long, she still didn't know the old man's name…
The old man glanced at the carriage behind him and rubbed little Xi Tian's head, "You'll know when the time comes!"
Just then, Kong Xingzhuo, Xiao Ying, and Xiao Jun walked over. The three of them looked fidgety and uneasy, like rabbits encountering an eagle, awkward to say the least…
"Tian, Tian Bao, the young master has woken up and wants to see you!" Kong Xingzhuo mumbled.
Although he was speaking to little Xi Tian, his peripheral vision kept darting towards the old man, his chest and back soaked with cold sweat.
Little Xi Tian giggled, "The brat finally woke up. He's like a little pig, sleeping all day!"
The old man: "…"
Little pig?
Kong Xingzhuo was so scared his soul almost left his body. Please, Tian Bao, I beg you, stop talking.
Unexpectedly, little Xi Tian pouted and continued, "No, little pigs can eat and drink, but the brat just sleeps listlessly and doesn't eat. He should be a hibernating little hedgehog…"
Hedgehogs don't eat when they hibernate, and they are covered in spines. It was the most fitting description for Xiao Jin Heng.
The brat was prone to temper tantrums for no reason, and his spines were quite sharp.
The old man: "…"
"Tian Bao, let's go see the young master!" Kong Xingzhuo scooped up little Xi Tian and then trotted towards their carriage.
Xiao Jin Heng lay in the carriage, looking haggard, his lips dry, and his energy depleted.
"Little village girl, where did you go?" Xiao Jin Heng asked in a muffled voice.
He felt annoyed when he couldn't see the little village girl upon waking up…
Little Xi Tian climbed onto the carriage, "I went to see an old uncle about his leg. Here, eat the roast chicken!"
She handed him the roast chicken.
Xiao Jin Heng couldn't eat. Instead, he looked at Kong Xingzhuo, "What old uncle?"
By the time he woke up from his nap, it was almost dark, and he didn't know what had happened in the interim…
Kong Xingzhuo scratched his head and whispered a few words into Xiao Jin Heng's ear.
After listening, Xiao Jin Heng sat up abruptly, lifted the curtain, and looked outside.
How could he have run into him in a place like this!
"How far is it to the inn?" Xiao Jin Heng asked.
"Young master, the next inn is still a good half-day's journey away. Let's rest here tonight. Your subordinate will have Xiao Jun cook a pot of millet porridge for you, alright?"
With Granny Jin absent, Xiao Jun had taken on the role of cook. All the meals along the way were made by him…
They could make do with dry rations and cooked food, but if they ran out, they would have to endure Xiao Jun's "dark cuisine." https:/
Xiao Jin Heng's throat felt a bit scratchy. He tugged at it with his hand and then began to search through his clothes, "Commander Kong, where is my brocade robe?"
Along the way, to avoid drawing attention, he had also changed into coarse linen clothes.
But after so many years, he was finally going to meet that person. He couldn't possibly go to pay his respects looking so disheveled…
Kong Xingzhuo sighed helplessly, "Oh dear, young master, don't bother looking. That person is even dirtier than you are!"
Little Xi Tian: "???"
What were they talking about?
"Brat, that old uncle just now said he knows you. What's your relationship?" little Xi Tian asked curiously.
To meet an acquaintance in such a desolate place, this kid had quite a wide social circle…
Xiao Jin Heng bit his lip. It was really difficult to explain this matter to the little village girl.
Kong Xingzhuo also looked troubled.
Since they had met here, they couldn't just act like strangers, could they?
Just as Xiao Jin Heng was in a dilemma, the man walked over. Upon seeing Xiao Jin Heng, he bowed respectfully, "Young master, my master requests your presence!"
Xiao Jin Heng lowered his head and sighed inwardly.
Yun Sanman took Shangguan Fang'er out for a stroll. As there were a few wild corn stalks growing on both sides of the road, only four or five ears in total, Yun Sanman picked them all…
These wild corns had small kernels, short cobs, and many wormholes. Their taste was definitely not as good as the ones grown at home.
Who knew that Shangguan Fang'er, without a second thought, picked up a corn cob and started to gnaw on it.
*Crunch!*
"Ow, my tooth, my tooth, woo woo woo!" Shangguan Fang'er threw down the corn cob, covered her mouth, and started to cry and writhe on the ground in pain.
Yun Sanman: "…"
Miss Shangguan, when will you ever return to normal?
He was truly afraid that if he brought this woman back, his parents would drive her out.
Xiao Jin Heng took a sip of water, composed himself, and then jumped off the carriage, slowly walking towards the old man's carriage…