Chapter 22
Take One Step At A Time
As soon as she finished speaking, Stinky heard the commotion and woke up.
“Boohoo—”
Chu Tianbao picked up Stinky by reflex and sang, “Oh, oh, oh, oh~ Stinky, don’t cry. Stinky, don’t cry. Stinky is the most handsome person in the world~”
He could be coaxed with a few pats in the night, but it did not work now.
Bai Wutong calculated the time and realized that it was time for Stinky to drink milk. She opened the door and said politely to Madam Yang, “Thank you, Auntie.”
Madam Yang said ingratiatingly, “If there’s not enough milk, I’ll squeeze more for you later. You mustn’t let the Young Master starve.” She glanced into the house again and smiled. “Breakfast has been prepared for you. Do you want to eat in the house or in the main room?”
Bai Wutong said, “Then please send the things to the house.”
“Alright, I’ll go right away.”
Bai Wutong took the milk and noticed from the corner of his eye that Village Chief Zhao had packed a lot of things.
His sons were also walking in and out, moving things. They were probably planning to leave the farm.
Bai Wutong did not mind. Anyway, they would leave after breakfast.
Before long, Madam Yang arrived with the food.
Following behind her was a chubby and cute girl. She was still unsteady on her feet and looked like she was only two or three years old.
Madam Yang put down the food and reminded the young lady, “Peach, why are you following Grandma?”
The young lady thought for a moment and looked at Bai Wutong before glancing at Madam Yang. Encouraged by Madam Yang, she immediately walked over to Bai Wutong with trembling steps and reached out her chubby hand that was holding onto two eggs.
She said in a child-like voice, “Madam, take the eggs to little brother.” As she spoke, her eyes landed on the eggs, but she licked the corner of her mouth, as if she was recalling the taste of the eggs.
Village Chief Zhao’s genes were well-inherited. He gave birth to four grandsons before little Peach was born.
She was born with a pair of big, watery eyes. She was fair and clean and was very doted on in the Zhao family.
Village Chief Zhao wanted to get closer to Bai Wutong, so he immediately thought of this cute and likable granddaughter.
Bai Wutong glanced at Madam Yang who was beside and stroked Peach’s head. Her eyes were gentle as she said, “Little brother is still young and can’t eat eggs. You can eat them yourself.”
The rising sun enveloped Bai Wutong. Although she had an ugly face, Madam Yang suddenly felt that she was a beauty. When she saw the large red spots on her face, a trace of pity flashed across her eyes.
In the blink of an eye, she turned her head and glanced at Chu Tianbao, who was hugging Stinky. After taking a few glances, her expression immediately turned to confusion.
Both of them were so ugly. Why was the child so handsome?
Bai Wutong’s words brought back Madam Yang from her thoughts. She smiled and said, “Little Master can’t accept Peach’s kind intentions, so Madam and Young Master can have it.”
Peach quickly shook her head. “I’m not eating. I’ve already smelled it.”
Bai Wutong did not understand. “What have you smelled?”
Peach smiled brightly and said slowly but clearly, “My mother said that if I’ve smelled eggs, I’ve eaten them.”
She was like a vibrant sunflower, innocent, unaware of pain and unafraid of it.
Bai Wutong’s eyes darkened as she looked at the egg in her small hand for a long time.
Madam Yang’s expression stiffened. Afraid that Bai Wutong would think that they were treating Peach badly, she hurriedly explained, “When there wasn’t a famine, Peach would get an egg every day.”
Looking at the child’s chubby cheeks, Bai Wutong knew that she had not been mistreated.
She didn’t say anything. Instead, she picked up one of the eggs in Peach’s hand. After she’d peeled it, she held it to Peach’s lips. “You’ve eaten it but shall we have another?”
Peach looked at Madam Yang as if asking for permission.
When the Madam Yang met Bai Wutong’s gaze, she smiled awkwardly and said gently, “If Madam Bai gives it to you, you can eat it.” If not for the fact that they were really afraid that there would not be enough food in winter, Madam Yang would not have let these children suffer.
Peach finally opened her mouth and took a bite of the egg. Then she smiled contentedly at Bai Wutong. “The eggs are delicious, madam.”
A smile flashed in Bai Wutong’s eyes as she stroked her head again. “Yes, the eggs are delicious.”
Seeing the interaction between Peach and Bai Wutong, Madam Yang heaved a sigh of relief.
After breakfast, Village Chief Zhao brought the mule cart over as promised.
There were even two mules.
In case it rained along the way, Village Chief Zhao even thoughtfully built a shed for the mule cart.
Bai Wutong glanced at the mule cart. There was a soft blanket inside and two baskets of dry food and fruits that had just been plucked.
Village Chief Zhao said solicitously, “Madam Bai, you can rest in the car for a while. The two mules are very stable. Little Master can even roll on them and stretch his muscles.”
Bai Wutong glanced at the shrewd Village Chief Zhao and then looked at the courtyard. Outside the courtyard, the villagers were dragging their luggage inside and outside. A bad feeling surged in her heart.
Could it be that these people wanted to leave Zhao’s farmyard with them!?
Sure enough, Zhao Pengfei smiled even more solicitously than his father. “Master, Madam, let me help you drive. My driving skills are the best in the farm.”
“…” Who’s your Madam!
‘Where’s your face, lad?’
While Bai Wutong was speechless, she looked at Village Chief Zhao and admired him for persuading the villagers of Zhao’s farmyard to leave the place where they had lived for generations and embark on an unknown path of escape.
Village Chief Zhao met Bai Wutong’s scrutinizing gaze and lowered his eyes guiltily. “It’s dangerous on the way. It’s much safer for Madam to be with us.” He also promised, “Don’t worry, we definitely won’t cause any trouble for you. We’re just going along the same way!”
Bai Wutong stared at him for a few seconds. “Then where are you two going?”
Village Chief Zhao had already asked Lin Yue but he did not say. He actually wanted to follow Bai Wutong. Wherever Bai Wutong went, they would follow. Afraid that Bai Wutong would dislike it, he said, “We will take one step at a time.”
Of course, it would be even better if they encountered a beautiful place that could let everyone settle down and avoid this famine and war. It would be even better if they could also earn some money.
If they couldn’t, they could at least save the lives of the entire village. In the future, they would be able to return to Zhao’s farmyard and pay their respects to the ancestors.
Bai Wutong could tell what Village Chief Zhao was up to.
He claimed that it was on the same way, but he just wanted to make use of their protection.
She really didn’t want them to follow.
With more people, there would be more trouble. The s.p.a.ce had to be used more cautiously.
It was inconvenient to do anything.
However, she was not the one who had built the road.
They insisted on following and even claimed that it was on the same way. Bai Wutong could not say anything about it.
Afraid that Bai Wutong would not agree or want to shake them off halfway, Village Chief Zhao gave the villagers another look.
The villagers immediately raised their food and brought it to Bai Wutong. They shouted, “Madam, we really won’t trouble you. Just let us follow.”
Some villagers even made the children kneel down and beg, “Madam, please.”
“We really won’t cause you any trouble.”
Peach trotted over and tugged at Bai Wutong’s sleeve. She had probably forgotten her lines as she stared at Bai Wutong and said nothing.
Bai Wutong looked down at her and said coldly to Village Chief Zhao, “This is your own matter. You don’t have to tell me.” Even if she didn’t agree, these people would probably have to follow her forcefully.
Village Chief Zhao did not expect Bai Wutong to be very enthusiastic about it. It was already good enough that they could follow. He understood what she meant and hurriedly shouted excitedly, “Follow, follow along!”