CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38: YOU... TAKE CARE TOO!

"Ding Cheng, this damned man, annihilated Xi’er’s whole family. I grew up with Xi’er, of course I must avenge her!! Moreover, he forced Xi’er into a desperate place."

"Miss, do you know where Xi’er is now?"

So it turns out... he is Shaoxi’s childhood friend, working under Ding Cheng. Knowing that Ding Cheng killed the Shao Family, he sought revenge by trying to take action, determined to perish together.

Ruan Mian admired his courage and took out two silver ingots from her purse.

"Go hang Ding Cheng’s corpse on the city wall for public display, expose his crimes, let those oppressed by him have a good look."

"Then find some dependable heroes to take the relief grain withheld by Ding Cheng from the cellar and distribute it to the citizens. These supplies can sustain for some days, if the weather continues like this, the Capital City will send disaster relief grains."

Ruan Mian pointed towards the direction of the cellar; earlier, while gathering supplies, she had already moved enough grain and some bedding and other provisions from her space into the cellar.

"If you complete these tasks, you can find me at the post station outside the city, with luck, you might meet Miss Shao."

After saying this, she stood up, and the man hurriedly bowed with his head touching the ground: "I do not know how to address the miss."

But Ruan Mian had quickly left already.

She chose people-less, quiet places to walk through, and before long, exited via a side door.

Little did she know, the Ding Mansion had already turned into chaos, alarming the entire city’s citizens.

On the way, Ruan Mian saw more and more people heading towards the mansion, seemingly to watch the excitement.

Meanwhile, more and more shops by the roadside were opening.

Taking this opportunity, she might as well stock up on some supplies.

But what she could buy now was little; food and daily consumables were basically gone, only some odds and ends like needles and threads were left. She specially found a copper ware workshop.

The shopkeeper was about to head over to watch the excitement, but Ruan Mian stopped him.

"Shopkeeper, watching excitement is not worth as much as earning silver tael."

The shopkeeper was indifferent: "Just this little amount of silver tael doesn’t matter much, I mainly want to see what that bastard Ding Cheng looks like when skinned alive!"

He amiably refused her patronage until Ruan Mian pressed a piece of gold into his hand.

His eyes lit up; was there anything worth watching now compared to gold!

He promptly ushered this big spender Ruan Mian into the shop, even bringing out his treasured copper ware.

"I don’t know what the miss intends to buy, feel free to pick!"

But Ruan Mian wasn’t interested in these finely crafted copper wares, instead, she eyed those pots, plates, basins, especially the small copper stoves that the shopkeeper made in his free time.

Just small gadgets for winter warmth.

"However many of these you have, pack them all for me."

These were made from leftover materials, hadn’t sold well, and had accumulated quite a bit in the warehouse!

Unexpectedly, the distinguished guest chose his stockpile instead, instantly the shopkeeper moved all the inventory over to her.

Four big wooden boxes, with perhaps a thousand small copper stoves inside.

Moreover, he gave Ruan Mian a fair price.

Afterwards, she also selected some of the shop’s most exquisite copper wares, and with the remaining money, she eyed the horse cart the shopkeeper used for hauling goods.

The two quickly came to an agreement, selling her the entire cart with its goods.

The excess goods she stored in her space, only a portion was left on the cart as she headed towards the post station.

Passing by the city gate, she found the front crowed tightly.

Despite the cold weather, the city’s citizens still came out to watch the commotion.

On the city wall hung Ding Cheng’s corpse, and below the gate, citizens he had oppressed felt greatly relieved!

Picking up stones, snowballs, tree branches to hit his corpse with all their might.

Every hit vented anger accumulated in their hearts for a long time!

Some even threw dung at him.

Ruan Mian was staring ahead, about to lower the curtain when suddenly a woman rushed out from the side.

"Miss Ruan!"

Ruan Mian looked closely; it turned out to be Shaoxi.

She carried a large backpack, climbed onto her cart with red eyes.

Ruan Mian invited her in; she hurriedly handed over everything from the backpack to her.

"Miss Ruan, I promised to give you ointment, and some rice and flour from my home, along with several thick clothes."

"You still need to travel north, the journey is arduous, it’s always good to prepare more things. It’s just my capabilities are limited; I can only give you this much for your kindness."

Is this too little? It seems she has brought half of her estate!

Even the ointment was several boxes, and there were preserved fish, meat, and pickles.

The big backpack was stuffed full!

Ruan Mian patted her shoulder: "Has your family been settled?"

Shaoxi gently pressed her lips, nodded: "Settled, considering Ding Cheng’s pathetic state now, I’d die without regret."

"What nonsense, your future is still long, the villain being punished doesn’t mean your life is over."

"Oh right, I met a man, a guard by Ding Cheng’s side. Actually Ding Cheng’s death is his credit, I saw it with my own eyes, he said he grew up with you from childhood."

"Is it Haoyu?! How is he now?"

Seeing the worry in Shaoxi’s eyes, Ruan Mian had a hunch their relationship might not be simple.

"Do you like him?"

Perhaps she asked too directly, Shaoxi immediately lowered her head: "I’m only very worried about him."

Seeing this, Ruan Mian simply turned the cart around: "Since you’re worried about him, why don’t I take you to see him."

At this moment, he should be in the cellar moving grain, and she could also check if any help from her was needed.

With his courage, there shouldn’t be much problem.

She could see Shaoxi was very anxious, yet carried a hint of joy.

Like she was about to meet someone she liked.

If she could witness a beautiful relationship bloom, it wouldn’t be bad.

However, Ruan Mian seemed to have misunderstood.

When they arrived, the man was indeed there.

Even dragging his wounded body, he responsibly worked with those heroes to distribute the relief grain.

"Haoyu!"

Shaoxi called him, hurriedly ran down from the cart.

The man came rushing, but both stopped a step apart, looking at each other with tearful eyes.

Thousands of words of concern converged into silent gazes at this moment.

Until Bei Haoyu took out the sachet and handed it to her personally.

"Xi’er, it’s good you’re unharmed, Uncle and Aunt... now as spirits, they can rest in peace. You should live well, and for me, it’s time to leave."

Shaoxi, with tears in her eyes, was choked and couldn’t speak.

She tied the sachet to his waistband by hand, ignoring his protest, and managed to utter, "I know you have yet to avenge your family, and your aspirations haven’t been fulfilled. I don’t want to be your constraint and burden. Rest assured, I will live well, and you... must take care!"