Chapter 20: An Unexpected Gain

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Listening to the agonized cries of her worthless father being thoroughly beaten behind her, Li Mumu happily ran towards her second aunt. Without her saying a word, Song Qiang already understood the little girl’s intentions. She bent down slightly and asked gently, “Mumu, are you coming too?”

Li Mumu nodded. She was curious about the ancient town, and also worried that her second aunt might not be able to afford many things. They didn’t need to buy much, but appearances had to be kept.

Madam Gu looked on with indulgent affection. “If she wants to go, then take her along.”

“Mother, I understand. There’s still room for one more. Sister-in-law, do you want to come shopping?”

Zhang Yi shook her head. “I’ll stay here and take care of our parents. Otherwise… you take your sister.”

Song Qiang’s eyes brightened. “That’s right. Sister, don’t just stand there—come with me to get the things we need.”

Gu Yuru felt a little embarrassed. After all, it was a rare chance to go out, but with no one else from her family willing to come, she didn’t want to watch her husband protect another woman while fighting.

Of course, Li Yuan was only there to take the beating; even with his skills, he couldn’t use them effectively.

Old Madam Li tried to intervene but was pushed to the ground and then ran off to the side, crying and shouting, with no intention of stepping forward again.

Fearing her son would be beaten badly, she sought help from the Gu family, but they had all grown cold toward Li Yuan.

Gu Mingjing, young and hot-headed, said, “Help? I think it’s already great that I didn’t join the others in beating him up.”

“You…”

Gu Mingyu glared at his younger brother. Even if he thought that way, he shouldn’t have said it aloud. “Old Madam Li, it’s not convenient for us to help.”

He shook the shackles on his body.

Old Madam Li cried even louder, but she herself stayed far away.

Just as Li Mumu and the others were about to leave, a voice came from behind, “Wait, let me go. I beg you, sister-in-law, all the fault is mine. Please, let Yun Zhe see a doctor. It’s been so long, and he still hasn’t woken up.”

Gu Yuru looked at the barely breathing child, his lips blue-black, face pale and lifeless. “In that case, the two of us won’t go.”

Liuzi glanced over and said, “I don’t mind having one more child.”

He still remembered the fish soup the little girl had given him—that was the most delicious fish soup he had ever tasted in his life.

Li Mumu was genuinely worried she might not be allowed to go. “Thank you, Brother Liuzi.”

Liuzi smiled knowingly. They said the young lady of the Gu family was naturally simple-minded, but he found her pure and adorable, very much like his own sister who passed away early.

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“Let’s go; it’s getting dark. Better to be back early.”

Madam Sun carried Li Yun Zhe to the clinic, but they had no money for treatment. She planned to have the Gu family pay, but the doctor just glanced over and took Yun Zhe’s pulse before shaking his head.

“Take him home. The child won’t make it through the night.”

Madam Sun immediately began wailing like a banshee. Just moments earlier, she had been groveling before Gu Yuru, but now she cursed Li Mumu, calling her a murderer.

Song Qiang was no pushover and immediately argued back. Even if the little girl’s mind was not entirely sound, she wouldn’t allow anyone to slander her like that.

Thanks to Song Qiang’s sharp tongue, everyone understood what had really happened. If not for sympathy for Madam Sun who was about to lose her child, they would have called her deserving of it.

Madam Sun cried and screamed at the clinic entrance, refusing to leave. Unlike other officers, Liuzi was not harsh and would have beaten her up by now, but now he was helpless.

“Brother Liuzi, I want to buy something delicious,” Li Mumu said in a sweet, childlike voice.

Song Qiang was anxious. Many shops had already closed in this short time. “How about this? We buy what we need first. My son and husband are in your hands. With a child in tow, where else can I go?”

Liuzi nodded but was still quite scared. Losing a prisoner was a grave offense. “Second Madam Gu, I’ll do my best to make things easy for you. Please don’t cause me trouble.”

Song Qiang nodded. “Don’t worry, we’ll meet back here.”

She glanced at Madam Sun, who was crying until she was breathless, and spat. “Serves you right. It’s only because of my sister’s kindness that I’m holding back. Otherwise, just for your son harming Mumu and your whole family hurting my son, I’d make your entire family pay.”

“But it’s good too. What goes around comes around—this is karma, karma, haha!”

With that, she took Li Mumu’s hand and strode away confidently.

Li Mumu giggled. How could she not be happy?

“You little girl, do you understand? Just keep smiling.”

“Second Aunt is amazing, hehe.”

Song Qiang held her hand. “You have to be strong. I’m not like your mother, who is spoiled at home by her parents and brothers. I have to fight for what I want. Your mother is too soft—she’s been completely outmaneuvered by your father and the others. Sigh, why am I telling you all this?”

Spotting a steamed bun vendor, Song Qiang quickly bought two for Li Mumu but didn’t eat any herself.

They had money, but the road ahead was long. Besides having to bribe the officers, there were many things to prepare, so she couldn’t waste it.

Li Mumu didn’t eat, but Song Qiang was busy shopping and didn’t pay attention, just thinking the girl was a slow eater.

“We need to buy grain first. Just eating porridge won’t do—the elderly and children can’t handle it. We also need to prepare warm clothes.”

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This was the result of their discussion in the afternoon.

Only one adult was missing, so they dared not buy too much.

But carrying too much would be troublesome as well.

Listening to second aunt’s chatter for a while, Li Mumu felt two things were missing: one was oilcloth for rain protection, and the other was medicinal herbs.

They could buy some common herbs; the rest she could gather from the mountains.

Song Qiang was capable and unpretentious; she bargained hard and ignored the disdainful looks since she still had shackles on her feet.

As the two lugged their heavy bags on the way back, Li Mumu had an unexpected discovery.

“Baa~”

“Second Aunt, a sheep!” Li Mumu exclaimed.

“It’s a sheep. Mumu, hurry up, it’s getting dark—we need to get home quickly.” Song Qiang didn’t understand what the little girl meant.

Li Mumu was in no rush. “Mumu likes sheep.”

She looked at the mountain goat, which was a dairy goat. If they had it, the family would have guaranteed nutrition on the road.

“Even if you like it, we can’t take it with us.”

“Can’t we?” Li Mumu asked, puzzled. She didn’t understand this country’s laws, but in the novel, the heroine had a milk goat after she was born, gifted by Li Yuan.

If the heroine could have one, so could others.

Song Qiang took a deep breath. “Yes, we can’t. Or can we? This goat is so fat.”

Li Mumu pointed at the goat again. “Milk.”

“Yes, carrying food is hard, but if we bring a milk goat, she can walk on her own.” Song Qiang bent down and kissed Li Mumu. “My little lucky star, you’ve really helped second aunt a lot.”

Li Mumu smiled as she watched second aunt bargaining with the goat’s owner. Originally, the owner didn’t want to sell, but Song Qiang offered a price higher than the market rate, so he agreed.

Li Mumu was secretly delighted. The milk stored in her space could come in handy, and mixed with the goat’s milk, no one would notice the difference.